From: FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIONS < "FBI."@sirius.ocn.ne.jp > Date: 10/11/17 9:03 AM (GMT-08:00) To: Subject: ATM CARD PAYMENT BENEFICIARY, ANTI-TERRORIST AND MONETARY CRIMES DIVISION FBI HEADQUARTERS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION J. EDGAR HOOVER BUILDING 935 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, NW WASHINGTON, D.C. 20535-0001 DATE: 10/10/2017, Website: washingtondc.fbi.gov. ATTN: ATM CARD PAYMENT BENEFICIARY, (FBI) PAYMENT MEMO TO PAYMENT BENEFICIARIES. GOOD NEWS FOR YOU FROM THE FBI UNITED STATES. WE HAD A MEETING WITH INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA/ BENIN OVER YOUR LONG OVERDUE CONTRACT PAYMENT AND WE AGREED WITH THEM THAT YOUR FUND SHOULD NOT COST YOU ANYTHING BECAUSE IS YOUR MONEY, WHICH WE FINALLY REACHED AN AGREEMENT YESTERDAY THAT ALL THE PAYMENT WILL BE PAID VIA ATM SMART CARD WHICH IS THE SIMPLEST WAY TO TRANSFER HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO AVOID COST OF TRANSFER AND OTHER STATUTORY DOCUMENTS, WHICH WE STRETCHED TO HAVE A STRONG AGREEMENT OVER THE PAYMENT THAT WILL COST YOU ONLY $300USD FOR DELIVERY OF YOUR ATM SMART CARD VIA UPS OR FEDEX DELIVERY COMPANY DEPENDING ON YOUR CHOICE. HOWEVER, YOU HAVE ONLY TWO WORKING DAYS TO SEND THIS REQUIRED DELIVERY FEE OF $300USD TO FEDEX OR UPS COURIER COMPANY FOR DELIVERING OF YOUR CARD BECAUSE YOUR CARD WILL BE DISPATCH TO THEM IMMEDIATELY. AND IF WE DON'T HEAR FROM YOU WITH THE PAYMENT INFORMATION; THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION WILL NOT HESITATE BY GIVING INSTRUCTION TO FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA AND THE INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT TO CANCEL YOUR PAYMENT THAT HAS BEEN ALREADY APPROVED AND PROGRAMMED IN AN ATM SMART CARD. I WANT YOU TO READ BELOW CAREFULLY, THE NOTICE BELOW STAND AS CAUTION BEFORE IT IS LATE. FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, YOU MUST BE CONSCIOUS OF THIS PROJECT, AS I WILL SOON CONCLUDE THIS TRANSACTION WITH YOU, LET THIS STAND AS A WARNING BEFORE YOU IN CASE YOU RECEIVED ANY E-MAILS OR CALLS REGARDING TO THIS FROM ANY INDIVIDUAL, OFFICE, ORGANIZATION AND BANKS CLAIMING TO BE ME. BE INFORMED THAT YOU MAY ALSO RECEIVE SEVERAL E-MAILS AND TELEPHONE CALLS FROM ANY ORGANIZATION, SUCH MUST BE FORWARDED TO US IMMEDIATELY FOR VERIFICATION.IT MIGHT COME TO YOU WITH DIFFERENT PROPOSALS WITH DIFFERENT NAMES INCLUDING MY NAME ASKING YOU TO COME AND PUT CLAIM ON YOUR ESTATE OR EVEN FUNDS BELONGING TO YOU OR TO SOMEBODY YOU DO NOT KNOW, I URGE YOU TO IGNORE SUCH E-MAILS OR CALLS, WHILE YOU FORWARD IT TO US. I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR ME IS YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND CO-OPERATION. WHILE RESPONDING TO THE ATM CARD PAYMENT OFFICER YOU MUST CONFIRM THIS CODE (10/10/2017) FOR IDENTIFICATION. HOWEVER, BE INFORMED THAT THE PART PAYMENT, WHICH IS 3,000,000.00 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS HAS BEEN LOADED IN YOUR ATM SMART CARD AND YOUR FUND WHICH IS IN TUNE OF 10,500.000.00 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS WILL COME IN BATCHES OF 3,000.000.00 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS AND THIS IS THE FIRST BATCH OF YOUR PART PAYMENT.YOUR PAYMENT WOULD BE SENT TO YOU VIA UPS OR FEDEX, BECAUSE WE HAVE SIGNED A CONTRACT WITH THEM WHICH SHOULD EXPIRED BY 13/10/2017. BELOW ARE FEW LIST OF TRACKING NUMBERS YOU CAN TRACK FROM UPS WEBSITE(WWW.UPS.COM) TO CONFIRM PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO HAVE RECEIVED THEIR PAYMENT SUCCESSFULLY. JOHNNY ALMANTE = = = = = = = 1Z2X59394198080570 GARY METZGER = = = = = = = 1Z2X59394195952759 GLEN PAPANIKAS = = = = = = = 1Z2X59394198690947 CAROL R BUCZYNSKI = = = = = = = 1Z2X59394197862530 KARIMA EMELIA TAYLOR = = = = = = = 1Z2X59394198591527 LISA LAIRD = = = = = = = 1Z2X59394196641913 POLLY SHAYKIN = = = = = = = 1Z2X59394198817702 MOREOVER, THIS IS ANOTHER PEOPLE THAT RECEIVED THEIR PAYMENT THROUGH FEDEX WEBSITE (WWW.FEDEX.COM). RICHARD AUTRY = = = = = = = 869713119185 GARY METZGER = = = = = = = 871363130860 MARK STUBBS = = = = = = = 871363116168 HOWEVER,BE ADVISED BASED ON OUR RECOMMENDATION/INSTRUCTIONS THAT YOUR COMPLETE CONTRACT/INHERITANCE OVER-DUE FUNDS WILL BE RELEASED IMMEDIATELY UPON YOUR CONTACT TO THE NEWLY APPOINTED PAYMENT OFFICER THAT WILL CARRY OUT THE DISPATCH OF YOUR ATM SMART CARD TO FEDEX COURIER COMPANY WITH THE PAYMENT FOR DELIVERY OF YOUR PACKAGED. YOU ARE THEREFORE ADVISED TO CONTACT REV AUSTIN MUDI IMMEDIATELY AS STATED BELOW AS THE APPOINTED DIRECTOR OF ATM SMART CARD/FOREIGN OPERATION DEPT AND ASK HIM ON HOW AND WHERE TO SEND THE PAYMENT OF $300.00 ONLY TO FEDEX COURIER COMPANY. CONTACT PERSON: REV.AUSTIN MUDI PRIVATE DIRECT TELL +229-99454708 YOU'RE ADVISED TO CONTACT HIM IMMEDIATELY SO AS TO ENABLE HIM FACILITATE A SPEEDY PROCESSING AND RELEASE OF YOUR DELIVERY SINCE IS THE ONLY $300.00 USD THAT IS KEEPING YOUR ATM SMART CARD. CONTACT HIM WITH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AS BELOW: 1.FULL NAME:. . . . . . . . . 2.DELIVERY ADDRESS:. 3.PHONE:. . . . . . . . . . . 4.FAX NUMBER:. . . . . . . . . 5.A COPY OF YOUR IDENTITY:.: 6.AGE:. . . . . . . . . . . . 7.MARITAL STATUS:. . . . 8.COUNTRY:. . . . . . . . . . 9.CITY:. . . . . . . . . . . . 10.OCCUPATION:. . . . . . . . NOTE: YOU'RE ADVISED TO FURNISH YOUR INFORMATION TO INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR REV AUSTIN MUDI WITH YOUR CORRECT AND VALID DETAILS TO ENABLE HIM EXPEDITE SPEEDY ACTION ON THE PROCESSING OF YOUR PAYMENT. WE EXPECT YOUR SWIFT RESPONSE TO THIS EMAIL TO ENABLE US MONITOR THIS PAYMENT AND THE DELIVERY OF YOUR ATM SMART CARD EFFECTIVELY THEREBY MAKING CONTACT WITH THE INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT AS DIRECTED TO AVOID FURTHER DELAY. YOUR ALSO EXPECTED TO FOLLOW HIS ADVICE AND DIRECTIVES TO AVOID DELAY IN RELEASING YOUR PAYMENT BECAUSE YOUR PAYMENT FILE HAS ALREADY BEEN MOVED TO IMF OFFICE FOR PROCESSING AND VERIFICATION. CONGRATULATIONS. YOURS IN SERVICE, DIRECTOR CHRISTOPHER A. WRAY FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON, D.C. 20535 Note: Disregard any email you get from any impostors or offices claiming to be in possession of your ATM card, you are hereby advice only to be in contact with Rev.AUSTIN MUDI Long who is the rightful person to deal with in regards to your payment and forward any emails you get from impostors to this office so we could act upon it immediately. Help stop cyber crime. ANTI-TERRORIST AND MONETARY CRIMES DIVISIONFBI HEADQUARTERS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIONJ. EDGAR HOOVER BUILDING935 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, NWWASHINGTON, D.C. 20535-0001DATE: 10/10/2017, Website: washingtondc.fbi.gov.ATTN: ATM CARD PAYMENT BENEFICIARY,(FBI) PAYMENT MEMO TO PAYMENT BENEFICIARIES.GOOD NEWS FOR YOU FROM THE FBI UNITED STATES. WE HAD A MEETING WITHINTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA/ BENIN OVERYOUR LONG OVERDUE CONTRACT PAYMENT AND WE AGREED WITH THEM THAT YOUR FUNDSHOULD NOT COST YOU ANYTHING BECAUSE IS YOUR MONEY, WHICH WE FINALLYREACHED AN AGREEMENT YESTERDAY THAT ALL THE PAYMENT WILL BE PAID VIA ATMSMART CARD WHICH IS THE SIMPLEST WAY TO TRANSFER HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY TOAVOID COST OF TRANSFER AND OTHER STATUTORY DOCUMENTS, WHICH WE STRETCHEDTO HAVE A STRONG AGREEMENT OVER THE PAYMENT THAT WILL COST YOU ONLY $300USDFOR DELIVERY OF YOUR ATM SMART CARD VIA UPS OR FEDEX DELIVERY COMPANYDEPENDING ON YOUR CHOICE.HOWEVER, YOU HAVE ONLY TWO WORKING DAYS TO SEND THIS REQUIRED DELIVERY FEEOF $300USD TO FEDEX OR UPS COURIER COMPANY FOR DELIVERING OF YOUR CARDBECAUSE YOUR CARD WILL BE DISPATCH TO THEM IMMEDIATELY. AND IF WE DON'THEAR FROM YOU WITH THE PAYMENT INFORMATION; THE FEDERAL BUREAU OFINVESTIGATION WILL NOT HESITATE BY GIVING INSTRUCTION TO FEDERALGOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA AND THE INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT TOCANCEL YOUR PAYMENT THAT HAS BEEN ALREADY APPROVED AND PROGRAMMED IN ANATM SMART CARD.I WANT YOU TO READ BELOW CAREFULLY, THE NOTICE BELOW STAND AS CAUTIONBEFORE IT IS LATE. FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, YOU MUST BE CONSCIOUS OF THISPROJECT, AS I WILL SOON CONCLUDE THIS TRANSACTION WITH YOU, LET THIS STANDAS A WARNING BEFORE YOU IN CASE YOU RECEIVED ANY E-MAILS OR CALLSREGARDING TO THIS FROM ANY INDIVIDUAL, OFFICE, ORGANIZATION AND BANKSCLAIMING TO BE ME.BE INFORMED THAT YOU MAY ALSO RECEIVE SEVERAL E-MAILS AND TELEPHONE CALLSFROM ANY ORGANIZATION, SUCH MUST BE FORWARDED TO US IMMEDIATELY FORVERIFICATION.IT MIGHT COME TO YOU WITH DIFFERENT PROPOSALS WITH DIFFERENTNAMES INCLUDING MY NAME ASKING YOU TO COME AND PUT CLAIM ON YOUR ESTATE OREVEN FUNDS BELONGING TO YOU OR TO SOMEBODY YOU DO NOT KNOW, I URGE YOU TOIGNORE SUCH E-MAILS OR CALLS, WHILE YOU FORWARD IT TO US. I WANT YOU TOUNDERSTAND THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR ME IS YOUR UNDERSTANDING ANDCO-OPERATION. WHILE RESPONDING TO THE ATM CARD PAYMENT OFFICER YOU MUSTCONFIRM THIS CODE (10/10/2017) FOR IDENTIFICATION.HOWEVER, BE INFORMED THAT THE PART PAYMENT, WHICH IS 3,000,000.00 MILLIONU.S. DOLLARS HAS BEEN LOADED IN YOUR ATM SMART CARD AND YOUR FUND WHICH ISIN TUNE OF 10,500.000.00 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS WILL COME IN BATCHES OF3,000.000.00 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS AND THIS IS THE FIRST BATCH OF YOURPART PAYMENT.YOUR PAYMENT WOULD BE SENT TO YOU VIA UPS OR FEDEX, BECAUSEWE HAVE SIGNED A CONTRACT WITH THEM WHICH SHOULD EXPIRED BY 13/10/2017.BELOW ARE FEW LIST OF TRACKING NUMBERS YOU CAN TRACK FROM UPSWEBSITE(WWW.UPS.COM) TO CONFIRM PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO HAVE RECEIVED THEIRPAYMENT SUCCESSFULLY.JOHNNY ALMANTE = = = = = = = 1Z2X59394198080570GARY METZGER = = = = = = = 1Z2X59394195952759GLEN PAPANIKAS = = = = = = = 1Z2X59394198690947CAROL R BUCZYNSKI = = = = = = = 1Z2X59394197862530KARIMA EMELIA TAYLOR = = = = = = = 1Z2X59394198591527LISA LAIRD = = = = = = = 1Z2X59394196641913POLLY SHAYKIN = = = = = = = 1Z2X59394198817702MOREOVER, THIS IS ANOTHER PEOPLE THAT RECEIVED THEIR PAYMENT THROUGH FEDEXWEBSITE (WWW.FEDEX.COM).RICHARD AUTRY = = = = = = = 869713119185GARY METZGER = = = = = = = 871363130860MARK STUBBS = = = = = = = 871363116168HOWEVER,BE ADVISED BASED ON OUR RECOMMENDATION/INSTRUCTIONS THAT YOURCOMPLETE CONTRACT/INHERITANCE OVER-DUE FUNDS WILL BE RELEASED IMMEDIATELYUPON YOUR CONTACT TO THE NEWLY APPOINTED PAYMENT OFFICER THAT WILL CARRYOUT THE DISPATCH OF YOUR ATM SMART CARD TO FEDEX COURIER COMPANY WITH THEPAYMENT FOR DELIVERY OF YOUR PACKAGED. YOU ARE THEREFORE ADVISED TOCONTACT REV AUSTIN MUDI IMMEDIATELY AS STATED BELOW AS THE APPOINTEDDIRECTOR OF ATM SMART CARD/FOREIGN OPERATION DEPT AND ASK HIM ON HOW ANDWHERE TO SEND THE PAYMENT OF $300.00 ONLY TO FEDEX COURIER COMPANY.CONTACT PERSON: REV.AUSTIN MUDIPRIVATE DIRECT TELL +229-99454708YOU'RE ADVISED TO CONTACT HIM IMMEDIATELY SO AS TO ENABLE HIM FACILITATE ASPEEDY PROCESSING AND RELEASE OF YOUR DELIVERY SINCE IS THE ONLY $300.00USD THAT IS KEEPING YOUR ATM SMART CARD. CONTACT HIM WITH THE FOLLOWINGINFORMATION AS BELOW:1.FULL NAME:. . . . . . . . .2.DELIVERY ADDRESS:.3.PHONE:. . . . . . . . . . .4.FAX NUMBER:. . . . . . . . .5.A COPY OF YOUR IDENTITY:.:6.AGE:. . . . . . . . . . . .7.MARITAL STATUS:. . . .8.COUNTRY:. . . . . . . . . .9.CITY:. . . . . . . . . . . .10.OCCUPATION:. . . . . . . .NOTE: YOU'RE ADVISED TO FURNISH YOUR INFORMATION TO INTERNATIONALREMITTANCE DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR REV AUSTIN MUDI WITH YOUR CORRECT AND VALIDDETAILS TO ENABLE HIM EXPEDITE SPEEDY ACTION ON THE PROCESSING OF YOURPAYMENT. WE EXPECT YOUR SWIFT RESPONSE TO THIS EMAIL TO ENABLE US MONITORTHIS PAYMENT AND THE DELIVERY OF YOUR ATM SMART CARD EFFECTIVELY THEREBYMAKING CONTACT WITH THE INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT AS DIRECTED TOAVOID FURTHER DELAY.YOUR ALSO EXPECTED TO FOLLOW HIS ADVICE AND DIRECTIVES TO AVOID DELAY INRELEASING YOUR PAYMENT BECAUSE YOUR PAYMENT FILE HAS ALREADY BEEN MOVED TOIMF OFFICE FOR PROCESSING AND VERIFICATION.CONGRATULATIONS.YOURS IN SERVICE,DIRECTOR CHRISTOPHER A. WRAYFEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIONUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICEWASHINGTON, D.C. 20535Note: Disregard any email you get from any impostors or offices claimingto be in possession of your ATM card, you are hereby advice only to be incontact with Rev.AUSTIN MUDI Long who is the rightful person to deal with inregards to your payment and forward any emails you get from impostors tothis office so we could act upon it immediately. Help stop cyber crime. Christopher A. Wray christopherwray012@acsalaska.net > Date: Fri, Oct 13, 2017 at 6:52 PM Subject: FBI Executive Director To: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)Anti-Terrorist And Monitory Crime Division. Federal Bureau Of Investigation. J.Edgar.Hoover Building Washington Dc Customers Service Hours / Monday To Saturday Office Hours Monday To Saturday: Dear Beneficiary, We hope this notification arrives meeting your good health and mind.Series of meetings have been held over the past 7 months with the secretary general of the United Nations Organization. This ended 3 days ago. This meeting was scheduled and arranged by the former acting Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is obvious that you have not received your fund which is to the tune of 10.3M) million due to past corrupt Governmental Officials who almost held the fund to themselves for their selfish reason and some individuals who have taken advantage of your fund all in an attempt to swindle your fund which has led to so many losses from your end and unnecessary delay in the receipt of your fund.for more information do get back to us. The National Central Bureau of Interpol enhanced by the United Nations and Federal Bureau of Investigation have successfully passed a mandate to the government of the states the exercise of clearing all foreign debts owed to you and other individuals and organizations who have been found not to have receive their Contract Sum, Lottery/, Inheritance. we are happy to inform you that based on our recommendation your outstanding contract inheritance funds of over-due payment in tone of USD 10.3M) has been credited in your favor in SunTrust Bank. Having said all this, we will further advise that you go ahead in dealing with the SunTrust Bank, AL accordingly as we will be monitoring all their activities with you as well as your correspondence at all levels. NOTE: There are numerous scam emails on the internet, imposters impersonating names and images. We therefore warn our dear citizens to be very careful with any claim email you receive prior to these irregularities so that they do not fall victim to this ugly circumstance anymore. And should in case you are already dealing with anybody or office claiming that you have a payment with them, you are to STOP further contact with them immediately in your best interest and contact the real bank (SunTrust Bank ) only where your fund is laying, with the below information: Bank Name: SunTrust Bank Address: 402 Cox Creek Pkwy, Florence, AL 35630, USA Attn:Lambert CressWell (Remittance Director) E-mail: Department Code:63804 website: www.suntrust.com Contact the bank today and furnish them with this information below for processing of your payment/funds accordingly. FULL NAME: CURRENT ADDRESS: CITY: STATE: ZIP CODE: DIRECT CONTACT NUMBER: NOTE: In your best interest, any message that does not come from the above email address should be Nullify and avoided immediately for security reasons. Meanwhile, we will advise that you contact the SunTrust Bankk office in Alabama immediately with the above email address and request that they attend to your payment file as directed so as to enable you receive your payment/fund accordingly. Ensure you follow all directives from SunTrust Bank as this will further help hasten up the whole payment process in regards to the transfer of your fund to you as designated. Also have in mind that the SunTrust Bank equally has their own protocol of operation as stipulated on their banking terms. All modalities has already been worked out before you were contacted and note that we will be monitoring all your dealings with them as you proceed so you don' t have anything to worry about. All we require from you henceforth is an update so as to enable us be on track with you and the SunTrust Bank . Without wasting much time, we will want you to contact them immediately with the above email address and phone number so as to enable them attend to your case accordingly without any further delay as time is already running out. Should in case you need any more information in regards to this notification, feel free to get back to us via email so that we can brief you more as we are here to guide you during and after this project has been completely perfected and you have received your payment/fund as stated. Thank you very much for your anticipated co-operation. BEST REGARDS, Christopher A. Wray Director Federal Bureau on Investigation J. Edgar Hoover Building 601,4th Street, 935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20535-0001, USA From:Date: Fri, Oct 13, 2017 at 6:52 PMSubject: FBI Executive DirectorTo: christophewrayfbi2@usa.com Federal Bureau of Investigation(FBI)Anti-Terrorist And Monitory Crime Division.Federal Bureau Of Investigation.J.Edgar.Hoover Building Washington DcCustomers Service Hours / Monday To SaturdayOffice Hours Monday To Saturday:Dear Beneficiary,We hope this notification arrives meeting your good healthand mind.Series of meetings have been held over the past 7months with the secretary general of the United NationsOrganization. This ended 3 days ago.This meeting was scheduled and arranged by the former acting Director ofthe Federal Bureau of Investigation.It is obvious that you have not received your fund which is to the tune of 10.3M)million due to past corrupt Governmental Officials whoalmost held the fund to themselves for their selfish reasonand some individuals who have taken advantage of your fundall in an attempt to swindle your fund which has led to somany losses from your end and unnecessary delay in thereceipt of your fund.for more information do get back tous.The National Central Bureau of Interpol enhanced by theUnited Nations and Federal Bureau of Investigation havesuccessfully passed a mandate to the government of thestates the exercise of clearing all foreign debts owed toyou and other individuals and organizations who have beenfound not to have receive their Contract Sum, Lottery/,Inheritance.we are happy to inform you that based on our recommendationyour outstanding contract inheritance funds of over-duepayment in tone of USD 10.3M) has been credited in yourfavor in SunTrust Bank. Having said all this, we will furtheradvise that you go ahead in dealing with the SunTrust Bank, ALaccordingly as we will be monitoring all their activitieswith you as well as your correspondence at all levels.NOTE: There are numerous scam emails on the internet,imposters impersonating names and images. We therefore warnour dear citizens to be very careful with any claim emailyou receive prior to these irregularities so that they donot fall victim to this ugly circumstance anymore.And should in case you are already dealing with anybody oroffice claiming that you have a payment with them, you areto STOP further contact with them immediately in your bestinterest and contact the real bank (SunTrust Bank ) only whereyour fund is laying, with the below information:Bank Name: SunTrust BankAddress: 402 Cox Creek Pkwy, Florence, AL 35630, USAAttn:Lambert CressWell(Remittance Director)E-mail: lambert.cresswell@aol.com Department Code:63804website: www.suntrust.comContact the bank today and furnish them with thisinformation below for processing of your payment/fundsaccordingly.FULL NAME:CURRENT ADDRESS:CITY:STATE:ZIP CODE:DIRECT CONTACT NUMBER:NOTE: In your best interest, any message that does not comefrom the above email address should be Nullify and avoidedimmediately for security reasons. Meanwhile, we will advisethat you contact the SunTrust Bankk office in Alabama immediatelywith the above email address and request that they attend toyour payment file as directed so as to enable you receiveyour payment/fund accordingly.Ensure you follow all directives from SunTrust Bank as this willfurther help hasten up the whole payment process in regardsto the transfer of your fund to you as designated. Also havein mind that the SunTrust Bank equally has their own protocol ofoperation as stipulated on their banking terms.All modalities has already been worked out before you werecontacted and note that we will be monitoring all yourdealings with them as you proceed so you don' t have anythingto worry about. All we require from you henceforth is anupdate so as to enable us be on track with you and theSunTrust Bank . Without wasting much time, we will want you tocontact them immediately with the above email address andphone number so as to enable them attend to your caseaccordingly without any further delay as time is alreadyrunning out.Should in case you need any more information in regards tothis notification, feel free to get back to us via email sothat we can brief you more as we are here to guide youduring and after this project has been completely perfectedand you have received your payment/fund as stated.Thank you very much for your anticipated co-operation.BEST REGARDS,Christopher A. WrayDirector Federal Bureau on InvestigationJ. Edgar Hoover Building601,4th Street,935 Pennsylvania Avenue,NW Washington, D.C.20535-0001, USA El Sabado, 14 de octubre, 2017 16:53:44, Mr. Christopher A. Wray < rockrock84@yahoo.com > escribio: ANTI-TERRORIST AND MONITORY CRIMES DIVISION FBI HEADQUARTERS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION FBI WEB SITE http://www.fbi.gov/ J. EDGAR HOOVER BUILDING 935 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, NW WASHINGTON, D.C. 20535-0001 FUND BENEFICIARY, YOUR ARE TO TEXT US +1 (650) 900-5981 INSTRUCTION FROM FBI OVER YOUR FUNDS $60MILLION. We received your email, this is not a child play, we are ready to take you to any length if you failed to proof the legitimate of the fund you are about to receive. As a Federal Commission we are here to protect your interest and the interest of all the United State citizens as well as this great Nation. You have been investigated as the beneficiary of the said funds that is why you are in touch with the FBI for a solid proof before the funds will be release to you.The said funds is now in U.S Bank in your name which has been placed on hold under the custody of the FBI for further verification and proof before releasing the fund to you. You do not have this document in your files, if you did the fund would not have been hold. We did not believe this at first, but when we saw the transfer we had no option than to contact you. We have gone through your Identification record and also the information received from you, we have verified a lot of things about you. It has come to the attention of our Money Trafficking investigation department, that you have some funds valued at U.S $60 Million to your name, The said payment is awaiting adjudication and crediting to Edward Powell. With full concern of The F.B.I and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) wish to remind you of the consequences of remitting such huge sums of money without complying fully with the provisions of the Financial and Allied Matters Decree 5 as amended in sub-section C (6) of 2003, which stipulates that any monitory transaction been done in the United States Of America, must have proper records, which duly guarantees and covers the transaction as legitimate and legally acquired and not criminally or terrorist associated funds. This is due to ongoing terrorist activities/economic crimes on and against the United States of America citizens. Note that with the information's we have here, the fund in your name here was release from Federal Republic Of Benin. To this regard you are to contact the Efcc benin republic where the fund was release from so that they will issue you the required document because they are the only people that can issue you the document. Nobody else have the right or privilege to issue you this document unless the Efcc benin republic. You are under an observational /Investigation in connection with money laundering. If your funds comes from a legitimate and legal source, the proper guidelines for you to recover the right of transaction is for you to provide the official monitory transaction release document so that your funds will be legally processed and recorded and accounted for and then finally released to you. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (ANTI-TERRORIST AND MONEY LAUNDERING DEPARTMENT) IS HERE to wipe out terrorism, and will stop at no length in doing our duty for the American people. You have 48 hours to produce legal proof of the below frozen wired transaction number Edward Powell AZQV9007 owned by Edward Powell do not have any rights to receive these funds if the documented legal wire information is not complete. For your own good and benefit, you are advice not to send your money to anybody accept the below person that will get the document for you. It have come to our notice that you have been dealing with scammers regarding the present transaction in your name, with the power imposed on us as a high Federal Commission, you are hereby warn and instruction to terminate your involvement with any people or individual contacting you regarding this present transaction.The said funds is now in our custody in your name as the beneficiary, your dealings should be channel to this office alone, if we find out you are still communicating with Imposters you will be charge for advance fraud communication by the Federal Law. The very heart of FBI operations lies in our investigations- which serve, as our mission states, 'to protect and defend the United States against terrorist and foreign intelligence threats and to enforce the criminal laws of the United States.' So follow our instructions properly to avoid any action before you. Attached a copy of my Office ID for your mutual view and understanding so that you will know exactly whom you are dealing with. We currently have jurisdiction over violations of more than 180 categories of federal law. So you can see that we can track you down through Investigative programs. We have your address and the evidence and status of your wired funds, so we can arrest you anytime anywhere.You dont have the required document on your possesion, these document are only to be issue to you from the paying country Benin, to this regards you are advice to contact the Efcc benin republic to obtain the document from them to enable the immediate release of the funds in your name. We have done our verification on your FBI Identification Record with our Social Security Number, the only document left is the required Diplomatic Immunity Seal Of Transfer(DIST) Which should be issue to you from the paying country of the said funds, you are to contact the ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIME COMMISSION (EFCC) Benin republic to obtain the above required document. Furthermore, be advice that according to the United State Law together with the FBI rules and regulations, you are to obtain the document from the EFCC BENIN where the fund was transfer from. Also Note that you are to take care of the Document to be issued to you right away, because due to the content of the document and how important and secured the document is, You are to take care of the document by sending to the EFCC BENIN the sum of $180 .00 Dollars only for the issuing of the document right away and your $60 million will be release to you That is the only way the EFCC BENIN will issue you the document, because they are going to issue you the Authentic and Original copy of the document for the resettlement of your fund. PAYMENT INFORMATION THROUGH MONEY GRAM OR WU ONLY. Receivers Name= =TONY NDU Country:= = = = Benin Republic City.= = = = = Cotonou Code: = = = = 00229 Question: = = =What Color Answer := = = Red Amount:= = =$180 USD Only Senders Name.= = MTCN Numbers.= You are here by advice to Contact them through the email address above and send the fee to them. Note that you are to do this immediately if you really want your fund to be credited to your personal account and also if you don't want any action to be fall before you. We have already informed the EFCC BENIN about the present situation, so go ahead and contact them immediately. Your fund is now on our custody and will not be release to you unless the required document is confirmed, After that the fund will be release to you immediately without any delay. NOTE: We have asked for the above documents to make available the most complete and up-to date records possible for no criminal justice purposes. WARNING: failure to produce the above requirement in the next 48 hours, legal action will be taken immediately by arresting and detaining you, justification and if found guilty, you will be jailed. As terrorism, drug trafficking and money laundering is a serious problem in our community today. The F.B.I will not stop at any length in tracking down and prosecuting any criminal who indulge in this criminal act. FORWARD THE DOCUMENT TO US VIA EMAIL ATTACHMENT AS SOON AS YOU OBTAIN IT. Mr. Christopher A. Wray Federal Bureau of Investigation fbi26 Federal Plaza, New York, NY 10278, USA Phone: +1 (650) 900-5981 From: Mr. Christopher A. Wray Date: Sat, Oct 14, 2017 at 2:07 PM Subject: FBI HEADQUARTERS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. To: ANTI-TERRORIST AND MONITORY CRIMES DIVISION FBI HEADQUARTERS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION FBI WEB SITE http://www.fbi.gov/ J. EDGAR HOOVER BUILDING 935 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, NW WASHINGTON, D.C. 20535-0001 FUND BENEFICIARY, YOUR ARE TO TEXT US +19177942877 Email: infocontactfbi2@gmail.com INSTRUCTION FROM FBI OVER YOUR FUNDS $60MILLION. We received your email, this is not a child play, we are ready to take you to any length if you failed to proof the legitimate of the fund you are about to receive. As a Federal Commission we are here to protect your interest and the interest of all the United State citizens as well as this great Nation. You have been investigated as the beneficiary of the said funds that is why you are in touch with the FBI for a solid proof before the funds will be release to you.The said funds is now in U.S Bank in your name which has been placed on hold under the custody of the FBI for further verification and proof before releasing the fund to you. You do not have this document in your files, if you did the fund would not have been hold. We did not believe this at first, but when we saw the transfer we had no option than to contact you. We have gone through your Identification record and also the information received from you, we have verified a lot of things about you. It has come to the attention of our Money Trafficking investigation department, that you have some funds valued at U.S $60 Million to your name, The said payment is awaiting adjudication and crediting to Edward Powell. With full concern of The F.B.I and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) wish to remind you of the consequences of remitting such huge sums of money without complying fully with the provisions of the Financial and Allied Matters Decree 5 as amended in sub-section C (6) of 2003, which stipulates that any monitory transaction been done in the United States Of America, must have proper records, which duly guarantees and covers the transaction as legitimate and legally acquired and not criminally or terrorist associated funds. This is due to ongoing terrorist activities/economic crimes on and against the United States of America citizens. Note that with the information's we have here, the fund in your name here was release from Federal Republic Of Benin. To this regard you are to contact the Efcc Nigeria where the fund was release from so that they will issue you the required document because they are the only people that can issue you the document. Nobody else have the right or privilege to issue you this document unless the Efcc Nigeria. You are under an observational /Investigation in connection with money laundering. If your funds comes from a legitimate and legal source, the proper guidelines for you to recover the right of transaction is for you to provide the official monitory transaction release document so that your funds will be legally processed and recorded and accounted for and then finally released to you.FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (ANTI-TERRORIST AND MONEY LAUNDERING DEPARTMENT) IS HERE to wipe out terrorism, and will stop at no length in doing our duty for the American people. You have 48 hours to produce legal proof of the below frozen wired transaction number Edward Powell AZQV9007 owned by Edward Powell do not have any rights to receive these funds if the documented legal wire information is not complete. For your own good and benefit, you are advice not to send your money to anybody accept the below person that will get the document for you. It have come to our notice that you have been dealing with scammers regarding the present transaction in your name, with the power imposed on us as a high Federal Commission, you are hereby warn and instruction to terminate your involvement with any people or individual contacting you regarding this present transaction.The said funds is now in our custody in your name as the beneficiary, your dealings should be channel to this office alone, if we find out you are still communicating with Imposters you will be charge for advance fraud communication by the Federal Law. The very heart of FBI operations lies in our investigations--which serve, as our mission states, 'to protect and defend the United States against terrorist and foreign intelligence threats and to enforce the criminal laws of the United States.' So follow our instructions properly to avoid any action before you. Attached a copy of my Office ID for your mutual view and understanding so that you will know exactly whom you are dealing with. We currently have jurisdiction over violations of more than $180 categories of federal law. So you can see that we can track you down through Investigative programs. We have your address and the evidence and status of your wired funds, so we can arrest you anytime anywhere.You dont have the required document on your possesion, these document are only to be issue to you from the paying country Nigeria, to this regards you are advice to contact the Efcc Nigeria republic to obtain the document from them to enable the immediate release of the funds in your name. We have done our verification on your FBI Identification Record with our Social Security Number, the only document left is the required Diplomatic Immunity Seal Of Transfer(DIST) Which should be issue to you from the paying country of the said funds, you are to contact the ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIME COMMISSION (EFCC) Nigeria to obtain the above required document. Furthermore, be advice that according to the United State Law together with the FBI rules and regulations, you are to obtain the document from the EFCC NIGERIA where the fund was transfer from. Also Note that you are to take care of the Document to be issued to you right away, because due to the content of the document and how important and secured the document is, You are to take care of the document by sending to the EFCC NIGERIA the sum of $180 .00 Dollars only for the issuing of the document right away and your $60 million will be release to you That is the only way the EFCC NIGERIA will issue you the document, because they are going to issue you the Authentic and Original copy of the document for the resettlement of your fund. PAYMENT INFORMATION THROUGH MONEY GRAM ONLY. Receivers Name===MAXWELL ILE Country:========Lagos Nigeria City.==========Lagos Code: ========00234 Question: =====What Color Answer :======Red Amount:=====$180 USD Only Senders Name.=== MTCN Numbers.== You are here by advice to Contact them through the email address above and send the fee to them. Note that you are to do this immediately if you really want your fund to be credited to your personal account and also if you don't want any action to be fall before you. We have already informed the EFCC NIGERIA about the present situation, so go ahead and contact them immediately. Your fund is now on our custody and will not be release to you unless the required document is confirmed, After that the fund will be release to you immediately without any delay. NOTE: We have asked for the above documents to make available the most complete and up-to date records possible for no criminal justice purposes. WARNING: failure to produce the above requirement in the next 48 hours, legal action will be taken immediately by arresting and detaining you, justification and if found guilty, you will be jailed. As terrorism, drug trafficking and money laundering is a serious problem in our community today. The F.B.I will not stop at any length in tracking down and prosecuting any criminal who indulge in this criminal act. FORWARD THE DOCUMENT TO US VIA EMAIL ATTACHMENT AS SOON AS YOU OBTAIN IT. Mr. Christopher A. Wray Federal Bureau of Investigation fbi26 Federal Plaza, New York, NY 10278, USA Phone: +19177942877 Email: infocontactfbi2@gmail.com From: Rev. Williams James < " www. " @ silk.ocn.ne.jp > Date: Sun, Oct 22, 2017 at 4:05 AM Subject: FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION To: ANTI-TERRORIST AND MONETARY CRIMES DIVISION FBI HEADQUARTERS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION J. EDGAR HOOVER BUILDING 935 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, NW WASHINGTON, D.C. 20535-0001 DATE: 22/10/2017, Website: washingtondc.fbi.gov . ATTN: ATM CARD PAYMENT BENEFICIARY, (FBI) PAYMENT MEMO TO PAYMENT BENEFICIARIES. GOOD NEWS FOR YOU FROM THE FBI UNITED STATES. WE HAD A MEETING WITH INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA/ BENIN OVER YOUR LONG OVERDUE CONTRACT PAYMENT AND WE AGREED WITH THEM THAT YOUR FUND SHOULD NOT COST YOU ANYTHING BECAUSE IS YOUR MONEY, WHICH WE FINALLY REACHED AN AGREEMENT YESTERDAY THAT ALL THE PAYMENT WILL BE PAID VIA ATM SMART CARD WHICH IS THE SIMPLEST WAY TO TRANSFER HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO AVOID COST OF TRANSFER AND OTHER STATUTORY DOCUMENTS, WHICH WE STRETCHED TO HAVE A STRONG AGREEMENT OVER THE PAYMENT THAT WILL COST YOU ONLY $300USD FOR DELIVERY OF YOUR ATM SMART CARD VIA UPS OR FEDEX DELIVERY COMPANY DEPENDING ON YOUR CHOICE. HOWEVER, YOU HAVE ONLY TWO WORKING DAYS TO SEND THIS REQUIRED DELIVERY FEE OF $300USD TO FEDEX OR UPS COURIER COMPANY FOR DELIVERING OF YOUR CARD BECAUSE YOUR CARD WILL BE DISPATCH TO THEM IMMEDIATELY. AND IF WE DON' T HEAR FROM YOU WITH THE PAYMENT INFORMATION; THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION WILL NOT HESITATE BY GIVING INSTRUCTION TO FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA AND THE INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT TO CANCEL YOUR PAYMENT THAT HAS BEEN ALREADY APPROVED AND PROGRAMMED IN AN ATM SMART CARD. I WANT YOU TO READ BELOW CAREFULLY, THE NOTICE BELOW STAND AS CAUTION BEFORE IT IS LATE. FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, YOU MUST BE CONSCIOUS OF THIS PROJECT, AS I WILL SOON CONCLUDE THIS TRANSACTION WITH YOU, LET THIS STAND AS A WARNING BEFORE YOU IN CASE YOU RECEIVED ANY E-MAILS OR CALLS REGARDING TO THIS FROM ANY INDIVIDUAL, OFFICE, ORGANIZATION AND BANKS CLAIMING TO BE ME. BE INFORMED THAT YOU MAY ALSO RECEIVE SEVERAL E-MAILS AND TELEPHONE CALLS FROM ANY ORGANIZATION, SUCH MUST BE FORWARDED TO US IMMEDIATELY FOR VERIFICATION.IT MIGHT COME TO YOU WITH DIFFERENT PROPOSALS WITH DIFFERENT NAMES INCLUDING MY NAME ASKING YOU TO COME AND PUT CLAIM ON YOUR ESTATE OR EVEN FUNDS BELONGING TO YOU OR TO SOMEBODY YOU DO NOT KNOW, I URGE YOU TO IGNORE SUCH E-MAILS OR CALLS, WHILE YOU FORWARD IT TO US. I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR ME IS YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND CO-OPERATION. WHILE RESPONDING TO THE ATM CARD PAYMENT OFFICER YOU MUST CONFIRM THIS CODE (10/21/2017) FOR IDENTIFICATION. HOWEVER, BE INFORMED THAT THE PART PAYMENT, WHICH IS 3,000,000.00 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS HAS BEEN LOADED IN YOUR ATM SMART CARD AND YOUR FUND WHICH IS IN TUNE OF 10,500.000.00 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS WILL COME IN BATCHES OF 3,000.000.00 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS AND THIS IS THE FIRST BATCH OF YOUR PART PAYMENT.YOUR PAYMENT WOULD BE SENT TO YOU VIA UPS OR FEDEX, BECAUSE WE HAVE SIGNED A CONTRACT WITH THEM WHICH SHOULD EXPIRED BY 15/11/2017. BELOW ARE FEW LIST OF TRACKING NUMBERS YOU CAN TRACK FROM UPS WEBSITE( WWW.UPS.COM ) TO CONFIRM PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO HAVE RECEIVED THEIR PAYMENT SUCCESSFULLY. JOHNNY ALMANTE = = = = = = = 1Z2X59394198080570 GARY METZGER = = = = = = = 1Z2X59394195952759 GLEN PAPANIKAS = = = = = = = 1Z2X59394198690947 CAROL R BUCZYNSKI = = = = = = = 1Z2X59394197862530 KARIMA EMELIA TAYLOR = = = = = = = 1Z2X59394198591527 LISA LAIRD = = = = = = = 1Z2X59394196641913 POLLY SHAYKIN = = = = = = = 1Z2X59394198817702 MOREOVER, THIS IS ANOTHER PEOPLE THAT RECEIVED THEIR PAYMENT THROUGH FEDEX WEBSITE (WWW.FEDEX.COM ). RICHARD AUTRY = = = = = = = 869713119185 GARY METZGER = = = = = = = 871363130860 MARK STUBBS = = = = = = = 871363116168 HOWEVER,BE ADVISED BASED ON OUR RECOMMENDATION/INSTRUCTIONS THAT YOUR COMPLETE CONTRACT/INHERITANCE OVER-DUE FUNDS WILL BE RELEASED IMMEDIATELY UPON YOUR CONTACT TO THE NEWLY APPOINTED PAYMENT OFFICER THAT WILL CARRY OUT THE DISPATCH OF YOUR ATM SMART CARD TO FEDEX COURIER COMPANY WITH THE PAYMENT FOR DELIVERY OF YOUR PACKAGED. YOU ARE THEREFORE ADVISED TO CONTACT REV AUSTIN MUDI IMMEDIATELY AS STATED BELOW AS THE APPOINTED DIRECTOR OF ATM SMART CARD/FOREIGN OPERATION DEPT AND ASK HIM ON HOW AND WHERE TO SEND THE PAYMENT OF $300.00 ONLY TO FEDEX COURIER COMPANY. CONTACT PERSON: REV.JAMES WILLIAMS PRIVATE DIRECT TELL +229-99612379 YOU ' RE ADVISED TO CONTACT HIM IMMEDIATELY SO AS TO ENABLE HIM FACILITATE A SPEEDY PROCESSING AND RELEASE OF YOUR DELIVERY SINCE IS THE ONLY $300.00 USD THAT IS KEEPING YOUR ATM SMART CARD. CONTACT HIM WITH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AS BELOW: 1.FULL NAME:. . . . . . . . . 2.DELIVERY ADDRESS:. 3.PHONE:. . . . . . . . . . . 4.FAX NUMBER:. . . . . . . . . 5.A COPY OF YOUR IDENTITY:.: 6.AGE:. . . . . . . . . . . . 7.MARITAL STATUS:. . . . 8.COUNTRY:. . . . . . . . . . 9.CITY:. . . . . . . . . . . . 10.OCCUPATION:. . . . . . . . NOTE: YOU' RE ADVISED TO FURNISH YOUR INFORMATION TO INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR REV JAMES WILLIAMS WITH YOUR CORRECT AND VALID DETAILS TO ENABLE HIM EXPEDITE SPEEDY ACTION ON THE PROCESSING OF YOUR PAYMENT. WE EXPECT YOUR SWIFT RESPONSE TO THIS EMAIL TO ENABLE US MONITOR THIS PAYMENT AND THE DELIVERY OF YOUR ATM SMART CARD EFFECTIVELY THEREBY MAKING CONTACT WITH THE INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT AS DIRECTED TO AVOID FURTHER DELAY. YOUR ALSO EXPECTED TO FOLLOW HIS ADVICE AND DIRECTIVES TO AVOID DELAY IN RELEASING YOUR PAYMENT BECAUSE YOUR PAYMENT FILE HAS ALREADY BEEN MOVED TO IMF OFFICE FOR PROCESSING AND VERIFICATION. CONGRATULATIONS. YOURS IN SERVICE, DIRECTOR CHRISTOPHER A. WRAY FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON, D.C. 20535 Note: Disregard any email you get from any impostors or offices claiming to be in possession of your ATM card, you are hereby advice only to be in contact with Rev.JAMES WILLIAMS who is the rightful person to deal with in regards to your payment and forward any emails you get from impostors to this office so we could act upon it immediately. Help stop cyber crime. From: FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION Sent: Mon, Oct 23, 2017 8:32 am Subject: Your Fund sum of US$1,500,000.00 is about to be taken over by Benin government as abandon fund. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (FBI) Fund Transfer Monitoring Unit FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C. J. Edgar Hoover Building 935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20535-0001. Dear Beneficiary Sir, Your Fund sum of US$1,500,000.00 is about to be taken over by Benin government as abandon fund. I wish to acknowledge all your last mails to this office regarding your fund transfer from Africa and our team of investigators has been busy working to trace and identify the actual bank in Africa where your unclaimed inheritance/contract fund is located and finally it has been legitimately verified that your unclaimed fund of US$1,500,000.00 is currently standing unclaimed at Bank of Africa in Benin Republic and the new government in power is seeking the court order to confiscate the fund as abandoned fund if you did not contact the bank within three working days from today. As a matter of urgency, you are directed to contact the Executive Managing Director of Bank of Africa Benin on the below contact information to fast track your payment file and complete the fund transfer to your bank account within three working days without any more delay. Faustin Amoussou Managing Director Bank of Africa Email: faustinamoussou@boabeninonline.com faustinamoussou4000@hotmail.com Tel: +229 97514924 Contact him now with your receiving bank account information where the fund will be transferred, contact him also with a copy of your I D for identification and forward him any evidence of your fund ownership certificate or document in your position and notify our office as soon as the transfer is completed in your bank account next week. Thanks Christopher A Wray Director U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation To: undisclosed-recipients:; Sent: Mon, Oct 23, 2017 3:42 pm Subject: URGENT PAYMENT NOTIFICATION FBI want to inform you that $10.5m was approve in your name by Nigeria government but there was an error in your payment file therefor you are require to clear the error by contacting Barrister Zara Rubin who is UN representative Lawyer in Africa on provided information. This approve fund have been confirmed by the U.S.government under the leadership of FBI. You do not have any rights to receive this $10,500,000.00 until the error is in your payment file is ratified by Barrister Zara Rubin. So make swift contact to Barrister Zara Rubin today and have this problem resolved. Contact Name; Barrister Zara Rubin E mail : Telephone: Tel: +234-8112732753 Office Address: 15A Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.Nigeria. We are here to direct you the right path to receive the payment from Nigeria government Thanks Christopher A. Wray New FBI DIRECTOR Official payment adviceFBI want to inform you that $10.5m was approve in your name by Nigeria government but there was an error in your payment file therefor you are require to clear the error by contacting Barrister Zara Rubin who is UN representative Lawyer in Africa on provided information.This approve fund have been confirmed by the U.S.government under the leadership of FBI.You do not have any rights to receive this $10,500,000.00 until the error is in your payment file is ratified by Barrister Zara Rubin. So make swift contact to Barrister Zara Rubin today and have this problem resolved.Contact Name; Barrister Zara RubinE mail : barristerzararubin@gmail.com Telephone: Tel: +234-8112732753Office Address: 15A Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.Nigeria.We are here to direct you the right path to receive the payment from Nigeria governmentThanksChristopher A. WrayNew FBI DIRECTOR From: FBI OFFICE < mrscarman204@gmail.com >To: undisclosed-recipients:;Sent: Mon, Oct 23, 2017 3:42 pmSubject: URGENT PAYMENT NOTIFICATION From: "Christopher A. Wray" < christopherwray012@sound.ocn.ne.jp > Date: 10/23/17 10:18 AM (GMT-08:00) To: Subject: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)Anti-Terrorist And Monitory Crime Division. Federal Bureau Of Investigation. J.Edgar.Hoover Building Washington Dc Customers Service Hours / Monday To Saturday Office Hours Monday To Saturday: Dear Beneficiary, We hope this notification arrives meeting your good health and mind.Series of meetings have been held over the past 7 months with the secretary general of the United Nations Organization. This ended 3 days ago. This meeting was scheduled and arranged by the former acting Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is obvious that you have not received your fund which is to the tune of 10.3M) million due to past corrupt Governmental Officials who almost held the fund to themselves for their selfish reason and some individuals who have taken advantage of your fund all in an attempt to swindle your fund which has led to so many losses from your end and unnecessary delay in the receipt of your fund.for more information do get back to us. The National Central Bureau of Interpol enhanced by the United Nations and Federal Bureau of Investigation have successfully passed a mandate to the government of the states the exercise of clearing all foreign debts owed to you and other individuals and organizations who have been found not to have receive their Contract Sum, Lottery/, Inheritance. we are happy to inform you that based on our recommendation your outstanding contract inheritance funds of over-due payment in tone of USD 10.3M) has been credited in your favor in SunTrust Bank. Having said all this, we will further advise that you go ahead in dealing with the SunTrust Bank, AL accordingly as we will be monitoring all their activities with you as well as your correspondence at all levels. NOTE: There are numerous scam emails on the internet, imposters impersonating names and images. We therefore warn our dear citizens to be very careful with any claim email you receive prior to these irregularities so that they do not fall victim to this ugly circumstance anymore. And should in case you are already dealing with anybody or office claiming that you have a payment with them, you are to STOP further contact with them immediately in your best interest and contact the real bank (SunTrust Bank ) only where your fund is laying, with the below information: Bank Name: SunTrust Bank Address: 402 Cox Creek Pkwy, Florence, AL 35630, USA Attn:Lambert CressWell (Remittance Director) E-mail: lambertcanctb001@aol.com Department Code:63804 website:www.suntrust.com Contact the bank today and furnish them with this information below for processing of your payment/funds accordingly. FULL NAME: CURRENT ADDRESS: CITY: STATE: ZIP CODE: DIRECT CONTACT NUMBER: NOTE: In your best interest, any message that does not come from the above email address should be Nullify and avoided immediately for security reasons. Meanwhile, we will advise that you contact the SunTrust Bankk office in Alabama immediately with the above email address and request that they attend to your payment file as directed so as to enable you receive your payment/fund accordingly. Ensure you follow all directives from SunTrust Bank as this will further help hasten up the whole payment process in regards to the transfer of your fund to you as designated. Also have in mind that the SunTrust Bank equally has their own protocol of operation as stipulated on their banking terms. All modalities has already been worked out before you were contacted and note that we will be monitoring all your dealings with them as you proceed so you don't have anything to worry about. All we require from you henceforth is an update so as to enable us be on track with you and the SunTrust Bank . Without wasting much time, we will want you to contact them immediately with the above email address and phone number so as to enable them attend to your case accordingly without any further delay as time is already running out. Should in case you need any more information in regards to this notification, feel free to get back to us via email so that we can brief you more as we are here to guide you during and after this project has been completely perfected and you have received your payment/fund as stated. Thank you very much for your anticipated co-operation. BEST REGARDS, Christopher A. Wray Director Federal Bureau on Investigation J. Edgar Hoover Building 601,4th Street, 935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20535-0001, USA From: "Rev. James Williams" < "www."@silk.ocn.ne.jp > Date: 10/24/17 1:17 PM (GMT-08:00) To: Subject: ANTI-TERRORIST AND MONETARY CRIMES DIVISION FBI HEADQUARTERS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION ANTI-TERRORIST AND MONETARY CRIMES DIVISION FBI HEADQUARTERS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION J. EDGAR HOOVER BUILDING 935 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, NW WASHINGTON, D.C. 20535-0001 DATE: 24/10/2017, Website: washingtondc.fbi.gov. ATTN: ATM CARD PAYMENT BENEFICIARY, (FBI) PAYMENT MEMO TO PAYMENT BENEFICIARIES. GOOD NEWS FOR YOU FROM THE FBI UNITED STATES. WE HAD A MEETING WITH INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA/ BENIN OVER YOUR LONG OVERDUE CONTRACT PAYMENT AND WE AGREED WITH THEM THAT YOUR FUND SHOULD NOT COST YOU ANYTHING BECAUSE IS YOUR MONEY, WHICH WE FINALLY REACHED AN AGREEMENT YESTERDAY THAT ALL THE PAYMENT WILL BE PAID VIA ATM SMART CARD WHICH IS THE SIMPLEST WAY TO TRANSFER HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO AVOID COST OF TRANSFER AND OTHER STATUTORY DOCUMENTS, WHICH WE STRETCHED TO HAVE A STRONG AGREEMENT OVER THE PAYMENT THAT WILL COST YOU ONLY $300USD FOR DELIVERY OF YOUR ATM SMART CARD VIA UPS OR FEDEX DELIVERY COMPANY DEPENDING ON YOUR CHOICE. HOWEVER, YOU HAVE ONLY TWO WORKING DAYS TO SEND THIS REQUIRED DELIVERY FEE OF $300USD TO FEDEX OR UPS COURIER COMPANY FOR DELIVERING OF YOUR CARD BECAUSE YOUR CARD WILL BE DISPATCH TO THEM IMMEDIATELY. AND IF WE DON'T HEAR FROM YOU WITH THE PAYMENT INFORMATION; THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION WILL NOT HESITATE BY GIVING INSTRUCTION TO FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA AND THE INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT TO CANCEL YOUR PAYMENT THAT HAS BEEN ALREADY APPROVED AND PROGRAMMED IN AN ATM SMART CARD. I WANT YOU TO READ BELOW CAREFULLY, THE NOTICE BELOW STAND AS CAUTION BEFORE IT IS LATE. FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, YOU MUST BE CONSCIOUS OF THIS PROJECT, AS I WILL SOON CONCLUDE THIS TRANSACTION WITH YOU, LET THIS STAND AS A WARNING BEFORE YOU IN CASE YOU RECEIVED ANY E-MAILS OR CALLS REGARDING TO THIS FROM ANY INDIVIDUAL, OFFICE, ORGANIZATION AND BANKS CLAIMING TO BE ME. BE INFORMED THAT YOU MAY ALSO RECEIVE SEVERAL E-MAILS AND TELEPHONE CALLS FROM ANY ORGANIZATION, SUCH MUST BE FORWARDED TO US IMMEDIATELY FOR VERIFICATION.IT MIGHT COME TO YOU WITH DIFFERENT PROPOSALS WITH DIFFERENT NAMES INCLUDING MY NAME ASKING YOU TO COME AND PUT CLAIM ON YOUR ESTATE OR EVEN FUNDS BELONGING TO YOU OR TO SOMEBODY YOU DO NOT KNOW, I URGE YOU TO IGNORE SUCH E-MAILS OR CALLS, WHILE YOU FORWARD IT TO US. I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR ME IS YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND CO-OPERATION. WHILE RESPONDING TO THE ATM CARD PAYMENT OFFICER YOU MUST CONFIRM THIS CODE (10/21/2017) FOR IDENTIFICATION. HOWEVER, BE INFORMED THAT THE PART PAYMENT, WHICH IS 3,000,000.00 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS HAS BEEN LOADED IN YOUR ATM SMART CARD AND YOUR FUND WHICH IS IN TUNE OF 10,500.000.00 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS WILL COME IN BATCHES OF 3,000.000.00 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS AND THIS IS THE FIRST BATCH OF YOUR PART PAYMENT.YOUR PAYMENT WOULD BE SENT TO YOU VIA UPS OR FEDEX, BECAUSE WE HAVE SIGNED A CONTRACT WITH THEM WHICH SHOULD EXPIRED BY 30/10/2017. BELOW ARE FEW LIST OF TRACKING NUMBERS YOU CAN TRACK FROM UPS WEBSITE(WWW.UPS.COM) TO CONFIRM PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO HAVE RECEIVED THEIR PAYMENT SUCCESSFULLY. JOHNNY ALMANTE = = = = = = = 1Z2X59394198080570 GARY METZGER = = = = = = = 1Z2X59394195952759 GLEN PAPANIKAS = = = = = = = 1Z2X59394198690947 CAROL R BUCZYNSKI = = = = = = = 1Z2X59394197862530 KARIMA EMELIA TAYLOR = = = = = = = 1Z2X59394198591527 LISA LAIRD = = = = = = = 1Z2X59394196641913 POLLY SHAYKIN = = = = = = = 1Z2X59394198817702 MOREOVER, THIS IS ANOTHER PEOPLE THAT RECEIVED THEIR PAYMENT THROUGH FEDEX WEBSITE (WWW.FEDEX.COM). RICHARD AUTRY = = = = = = = 869713119185 GARY METZGER = = = = = = = 871363130860 MARK STUBBS = = = = = = = 871363116168 HOWEVER,BE ADVISED BASED ON OUR RECOMMENDATION/INSTRUCTIONS THAT YOUR COMPLETE CONTRACT/INHERITANCE OVER-DUE FUNDS WILL BE RELEASED IMMEDIATELY UPON YOUR CONTACT TO THE NEWLY APPOINTED PAYMENT OFFICER THAT WILL CARRY OUT THE DISPATCH OF YOUR ATM SMART CARD TO FEDEX COURIER COMPANY WITH THE PAYMENT FOR DELIVERY OF YOUR PACKAGED. YOU ARE THEREFORE ADVISED TO CONTACT REV AUSTIN MUDI IMMEDIATELY AS STATED BELOW AS THE APPOINTED DIRECTOR OF ATM SMART CARD/FOREIGN OPERATION DEPT AND ASK HIM ON HOW AND WHERE TO SEND THE PAYMENT OF $300.00 ONLY TO FEDEX COURIER COMPANY. CONTACT PERSON: REV.JAMES WILLIAMS PRIVATE DIRECT TELL +229-99454708 YOU'RE ADVISED TO CONTACT HIM IMMEDIATELY SO AS TO ENABLE HIM FACILITATE A SPEEDY PROCESSING AND RELEASE OF YOUR DELIVERY SINCE IS THE ONLY $300.00 USD THAT IS KEEPING YOUR ATM SMART CARD. CONTACT HIM WITH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AS BELOW: 1.FULL NAME:. . . . . . . . . 2.DELIVERY ADDRESS:. 3.PHONE:. . . . . . . . . . . 4.FAX NUMBER:. . . . . . . . . 5.A COPY OF YOUR IDENTITY:.: 6.AGE:. . . . . . . . . . . . 7.MARITAL STATUS:. . . . 8.COUNTRY:. . . . . . . . . . 9.CITY:. . . . . . . . . . . . 10.OCCUPATION:. . . . . . . . NOTE: YOU'RE ADVISED TO FURNISH YOUR INFORMATION TO INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR REV JAMES WILLIAMS WITH YOUR CORRECT AND VALID DETAILS TO ENABLE HIM EXPEDITE SPEEDY ACTION ON THE PROCESSING OF YOUR PAYMENT. WE EXPECT YOUR SWIFT RESPONSE TO THIS EMAIL TO ENABLE US MONITOR THIS PAYMENT AND THE DELIVERY OF YOUR ATM SMART CARD EFFECTIVELY THEREBY MAKING CONTACT WITH THE INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT AS DIRECTED TO AVOID FURTHER DELAY. YOUR ALSO EXPECTED TO FOLLOW HIS ADVICE AND DIRECTIVES TO AVOID DELAY IN RELEASING YOUR PAYMENT BECAUSE YOUR PAYMENT FILE HAS ALREADY BEEN MOVED TO IMF OFFICE FOR PROCESSING AND VERIFICATION. CONGRATULATIONS. YOURS IN SERVICE, DIRECTOR CHRISTOPHER A. WRAY FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON, D.C. 20535 Note: Disregard any email you get from any impostors or offices claiming to be in possession of your ATM card, you are hereby advice only to be in contact with Rev.JAMES WILLIAMS who is the rightful person to deal with in regards to your payment and forward any emails you get from impostors to this office so we could act upon it immediately. Help stop cyber crime. ANTI-TERRORIST AND MONETARY CRIMES DIVISIONFBI HEADQUARTERS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIONJ. EDGAR HOOVER BUILDING935 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, NWWASHINGTON, D.C. 20535-0001DATE: 24/10/2017, Website: washingtondc.fbi.gov.ATTN: ATM CARD PAYMENT BENEFICIARY,(FBI) PAYMENT MEMO TO PAYMENT BENEFICIARIES.GOOD NEWS FOR YOU FROM THE FBI UNITED STATES. WE HAD A MEETING WITHINTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA/ BENIN OVERYOUR LONG OVERDUE CONTRACT PAYMENT AND WE AGREED WITH THEM THAT YOUR FUNDSHOULD NOT COST YOU ANYTHING BECAUSE IS YOUR MONEY, WHICH WE FINALLYREACHED AN AGREEMENT YESTERDAY THAT ALL THE PAYMENT WILL BE PAID VIA ATMSMART CARD WHICH IS THE SIMPLEST WAY TO TRANSFER HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY TOAVOID COST OF TRANSFER AND OTHER STATUTORY DOCUMENTS, WHICH WE STRETCHEDTO HAVE A STRONG AGREEMENT OVER THE PAYMENT THAT WILL COST YOU ONLY $300USDFOR DELIVERY OF YOUR ATM SMART CARD VIA UPS OR FEDEX DELIVERY COMPANYDEPENDING ON YOUR CHOICE.HOWEVER, YOU HAVE ONLY TWO WORKING DAYS TO SEND THIS REQUIRED DELIVERY FEEOF $300USD TO FEDEX OR UPS COURIER COMPANY FOR DELIVERING OF YOUR CARDBECAUSE YOUR CARD WILL BE DISPATCH TO THEM IMMEDIATELY. AND IF WE DON'THEAR FROM YOU WITH THE PAYMENT INFORMATION; THE FEDERAL BUREAU OFINVESTIGATION WILL NOT HESITATE BY GIVING INSTRUCTION TO FEDERALGOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA AND THE INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT TOCANCEL YOUR PAYMENT THAT HAS BEEN ALREADY APPROVED AND PROGRAMMED IN ANATM SMART CARD.I WANT YOU TO READ BELOW CAREFULLY, THE NOTICE BELOW STAND AS CAUTIONBEFORE IT IS LATE. FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, YOU MUST BE CONSCIOUS OF THISPROJECT, AS I WILL SOON CONCLUDE THIS TRANSACTION WITH YOU, LET THIS STANDAS A WARNING BEFORE YOU IN CASE YOU RECEIVED ANY E-MAILS OR CALLSREGARDING TO THIS FROM ANY INDIVIDUAL, OFFICE, ORGANIZATION AND BANKSCLAIMING TO BE ME.BE INFORMED THAT YOU MAY ALSO RECEIVE SEVERAL E-MAILS AND TELEPHONE CALLSFROM ANY ORGANIZATION, SUCH MUST BE FORWARDED TO US IMMEDIATELY FORVERIFICATION.IT MIGHT COME TO YOU WITH DIFFERENT PROPOSALS WITH DIFFERENTNAMES INCLUDING MY NAME ASKING YOU TO COME AND PUT CLAIM ON YOUR ESTATE OREVEN FUNDS BELONGING TO YOU OR TO SOMEBODY YOU DO NOT KNOW, I URGE YOU TOIGNORE SUCH E-MAILS OR CALLS, WHILE YOU FORWARD IT TO US. I WANT YOU TOUNDERSTAND THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR ME IS YOUR UNDERSTANDING ANDCO-OPERATION. WHILE RESPONDING TO THE ATM CARD PAYMENT OFFICER YOU MUSTCONFIRM THIS CODE (10/21/2017) FOR IDENTIFICATION.HOWEVER, BE INFORMED THAT THE PART PAYMENT, WHICH IS 3,000,000.00 MILLIONU.S. DOLLARS HAS BEEN LOADED IN YOUR ATM SMART CARD AND YOUR FUND WHICH ISIN TUNE OF 10,500.000.00 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS WILL COME IN BATCHES OF3,000.000.00 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS AND THIS IS THE FIRST BATCH OF YOURPART PAYMENT.YOUR PAYMENT WOULD BE SENT TO YOU VIA UPS OR FEDEX, BECAUSEWE HAVE SIGNED A CONTRACT WITH THEM WHICH SHOULD EXPIRED BY 30/10/2017.BELOW ARE FEW LIST OF TRACKING NUMBERS YOU CAN TRACK FROM UPSWEBSITE(WWW.UPS.COM) TO CONFIRM PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO HAVE RECEIVED THEIRPAYMENT SUCCESSFULLY.JOHNNY ALMANTE = = = = = = = 1Z2X59394198080570GARY METZGER = = = = = = = 1Z2X59394195952759GLEN PAPANIKAS = = = = = = = 1Z2X59394198690947CAROL R BUCZYNSKI = = = = = = = 1Z2X59394197862530KARIMA EMELIA TAYLOR = = = = = = = 1Z2X59394198591527LISA LAIRD = = = = = = = 1Z2X59394196641913POLLY SHAYKIN = = = = = = = 1Z2X59394198817702MOREOVER, THIS IS ANOTHER PEOPLE THAT RECEIVED THEIR PAYMENT THROUGH FEDEXWEBSITE (WWW.FEDEX.COM).RICHARD AUTRY = = = = = = = 869713119185GARY METZGER = = = = = = = 871363130860MARK STUBBS = = = = = = = 871363116168HOWEVER,BE ADVISED BASED ON OUR RECOMMENDATION/INSTRUCTIONS THAT YOURCOMPLETE CONTRACT/INHERITANCE OVER-DUE FUNDS WILL BE RELEASED IMMEDIATELYUPON YOUR CONTACT TO THE NEWLY APPOINTED PAYMENT OFFICER THAT WILL CARRYOUT THE DISPATCH OF YOUR ATM SMART CARD TO FEDEX COURIER COMPANY WITH THEPAYMENT FOR DELIVERY OF YOUR PACKAGED. YOU ARE THEREFORE ADVISED TOCONTACT REV AUSTIN MUDI IMMEDIATELY AS STATED BELOW AS THE APPOINTEDDIRECTOR OF ATM SMART CARD/FOREIGN OPERATION DEPT AND ASK HIM ON HOW ANDWHERE TO SEND THE PAYMENT OF $300.00 ONLY TO FEDEX COURIER COMPANY.CONTACT PERSON: REV.JAMES WILLIAMSPRIVATE DIRECT TELL +229-99454708YOU'RE ADVISED TO CONTACT HIM IMMEDIATELY SO AS TO ENABLE HIM FACILITATE ASPEEDY PROCESSING AND RELEASE OF YOUR DELIVERY SINCE IS THE ONLY $300.00USD THAT IS KEEPING YOUR ATM SMART CARD. CONTACT HIM WITH THE FOLLOWINGINFORMATION AS BELOW:1.FULL NAME:. . . . . . . . .2.DELIVERY ADDRESS:.3.PHONE:. . . . . . . . . . .4.FAX NUMBER:. . . . . . . . .5.A COPY OF YOUR IDENTITY:.:6.AGE:. . . . . . . . . . . .7.MARITAL STATUS:. . . .8.COUNTRY:. . . . . . . . . .9.CITY:. . . . . . . . . . . .10.OCCUPATION:. . . . . . . .NOTE: YOU'RE ADVISED TO FURNISH YOUR INFORMATION TO INTERNATIONALREMITTANCE DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR REV JAMES WILLIAMS WITH YOUR CORRECT AND VALIDDETAILS TO ENABLE HIM EXPEDITE SPEEDY ACTION ON THE PROCESSING OF YOURPAYMENT. WE EXPECT YOUR SWIFT RESPONSE TO THIS EMAIL TO ENABLE US MONITORTHIS PAYMENT AND THE DELIVERY OF YOUR ATM SMART CARD EFFECTIVELY THEREBYMAKING CONTACT WITH THE INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT AS DIRECTED TOAVOID FURTHER DELAY.YOUR ALSO EXPECTED TO FOLLOW HIS ADVICE AND DIRECTIVES TO AVOID DELAY INRELEASING YOUR PAYMENT BECAUSE YOUR PAYMENT FILE HAS ALREADY BEEN MOVED TOIMF OFFICE FOR PROCESSING AND VERIFICATION.CONGRATULATIONS.YOURS IN SERVICE,DIRECTOR CHRISTOPHER A. WRAYFEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIONUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICEWASHINGTON, D.C. 20535Note: Disregard any email you get from any impostors or offices claimingto be in possession of your ATM card, you are hereby advice only to be incontact with Rev.JAMES WILLIAMS who is the rightful person to deal with inregards to your payment and forward any emails you get from impostors tothis office so we could act upon it immediately. Help stop cyber crime. If you received a similar letter, please ignore it. Do not answer it. If you do, you will end up on more of the mailing lists used by the criminals behind this fraud. Read more.... Alongside such familiar touchstones as Mister Rogers Neighborhood, Nilla Wafers and Candyland, A.A. Milnes Winnie-the-Pooh books remain an unsullied memory of childhood for generations of peoplea pure, gentle and near-ubiquitous reminder of that perfectly uncomplicated period before puberty took us. Given the state of what the world is, was and always will be, now is as good a time as any to set our minds back to who we were before we became who we areto recall the wisdom, imagination and youthful enthusiasm of childhood. With Goodbye Christopher Robin, longtime British television producer/director Simon Curtis pages back to the origins of Milnes family classics, starting with Winnie-The-Pooh in 1926. When we meet our soon-to-be author (played here by handsome beanpole Domhnall Gleeson of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows), he is a young playwright, freshly returned from the battlefields of The Great War. Alan Milne, known to friends and family as Blue, is quietly and stoically suffering from what we, today, would call post traumatic stress disorder. He has flashbacks of the fly-blotted trenches and his trademark wit has curdled into something more cynical. Unable to deal with the crowded city of London anymore, he flees with his beautiful wife, Daphne (Margot Robbie), to the fields and forests of Sussex. There, Daphne gives birth to their only child, the cherub-cheeked Christopher Robinknown to his nickname-prone family as Billy Moon. Still missing the excitement of London, Daphne doesnt exactly warm to motherhood. And Mr. Milne is far too absorbed in producing what he considers his great worka treatise condemning the madness of warto be much of a father. The duty of raising young C.R. Milne falls to warmhearted and fiercely dedicated nanny Olive (Kelly Macdonald from Trainspotting and Boardwalk Empire). Annoyed with Milnes persistent writers block and chafing at her provincial life, Daphne ditches the family and heads off to London. An illness in her family forces Olive to leave temporarily as well, stranding Mr. Milne and his 6-year-old son to fend for themselves. The two bond quickly, however, going for long walks, playing Robin Hood in the woods and hosting dinner parties with Billy Moons beloved stuffed animals. Milne finds in his son a clever, imaginative companion. Before long the author is spinning elaborate fairy tales involving his sons teddy bear and the pastoral woods in which they live. The scenes of Milne interacting with his young offspring (revelatory newcomer Will Tilston) are beautiful and magicala touching idyll about fathers, sons and the connective power of imagination. Suddenly inspired, Milne decides to turn the casual bedtime stories into a collection of prose and poetry. The resultant books, concerning the adventures of a young boy named Christopher Robin and his stuffed companion Winnie-the-Pooh, become massive bestsellers. Still weary from the horrors that The Great War visited upon Europe, the world greets the easygoing fantasy of Winnie-the-Pooh with something bordering on manic devotion. Sadlyas all stories must contain some element of sadnessthe massive popularity of Milnes books soon proves to be a burden on the family. Young Billy Moon bears the brunt of that burden. First of all, because his already estranged parents are now wealthy jet-setters, winging off to America and beyond for massive book signings and publicity tours. And second of all, because Christopher Robin (as he prefers not to be known) is the real-life star of the most popular childrens book series on the planet. Constantly besieged for interviews and photographs and buried under a mountain of fan mail, the lonely lad has no idea how to handle life as the worlds first media sensation. Given that the struggles of writers are almost all internal, most stories about writers are deadly dull affairs. But Goodbye Christopher Robin is more about the wonderfully alchemical process of inspiration and creationand the often toxic aftereffects of fame. The films happiness is positively infectious and its tragedy is deeply heartfelt. Its rare to find a work of art that makes you cry from both happiness and sadness. Some may find the script by Frank Cottrell Boyce (writer of 24 Hour Party People and Millions) and Simon Vaughan (producer of Ripper Street and Parades End) tries to cover too much groundparticularly as its third act slides into the young adulthood of Christopher Robin and the realization that his childhood was basically packaged and sold by his father. But the film tends to its story with speed and economy, and its hard to argue with the perfect bookend that the films father-and-son coda offers up. There are a handful of elements along the way that get short shrift. Mrs. Milne, for example, lacks the psychological depths afforded her family members, rarely coming across as anything more than selfish and one-note. But when its concentrating on the fanciful wonder and worldly confusion of father and son and the tenuous interconnectedness between them, this is a tenderhearted winner. Goodbye Christopher Robin emerges on screen as a wonder-filled, emotion-packed reminder of the joys of childhood and the attendant pains of growing up. 1. Yes. The ordinance goes against state law and is not in the best interest of the cities. 2. Yes. At the very least, it should be amended to give police officers some discretion. 3. No. Voters approved the ordinance by large majorities; the councils cant ignore that fact. 4. No. The petition process has to be given a chance to work. Leave the ordinance alone. 5. Unsure. Its hard to say how the cities should move forward regarding the ordinance. Vote View Results Your Ultimate Investing Toolkit Sign up for MarketBeat All Access to gain access to MarketBeat's full suite of research tools: Portfolio Monitoring Top Stock Lists Premium Reports Stock Screeners Live News Feed Premium Support Free for your first month. Knoll, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, markets, and sells commercial and residential furniture, accessories, and coverings for the workplace and residential markets in the United States, Canada, Europe, and internationally. The company operates through Office and Lifestyle segments. It provides systems furniture, including integrated panels or table desks, work surfaces and storage units, power and data systems, and lighting products; office seating products comprising various work chairs; and files and storage products, such as lateral files, mobile pedestals and other storage units, bookcases, and overhead cabinets. The company also offers adjustable tables, as well as meeting, conference, training, dining, and stand-alone and table desks; conference furniture product platforms; height desks, tables, and ergonomic seating and accessories principally for individual home offices and small businesses; technology support accessories, desktop organizational tools, and lighting and storage products; seating and lounge furniture, as well as side, cafA, and dining chairs; conference, training, dining, and occasional tables; and lighting, rugs, textiles, fabrics, felt, leather, upholstery, drapery, and related architectural products. It serves Fortune 1000 companies, governmental agencies, and other medium-to-large sized organizations in various industries, including financial, legal, technology, entertainment, accounting, education, healthcare, and hospitality through its direct sales force and showrooms, distribution partners, and independent dealers and retailers, as well as online. The company was founded in 1938 and is headquartered in East Greenville, Pennsylvania. The following companies are subsidiares of Lithia Motors: 797 Valley Street LLC, Albany CJD Fiat, Baierl Auto Group, Baierl Auto Parts LLC, Baierl Automotive Corporation, Baierl Chevrolet Inc., Baierl Holding LLC, Broadway Ford, Buhler Ford Inc, Cadillac of Portland Lloyd Center LLC, Camp Automotive Inc., Carbone Auto Body LLC, Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Fiat of Morgantown, Cranberry Automotive Inc., Crater Lake Ford Lincoln, Crater Lake Mazda, DCH (Oxnard) Inc., DCH Auto Group, DCH Bloomfield LLC, DCH CA LLC, DCH Calabasas-A LLC, DCH California Investments LLC, DCH California Motors Inc., DCH DMS NJ LLC, DCH Del Norte Inc., DCH Essex Inc., DCH Financial NJ LLC, DCH Freehold - V LLC, DCH Freehold LLC, DCH Holdings LLC, DCH Investments Inc. (New Jersey), DCH Investments Inc. (New York), DCH Korean Imports LLC, DCH Mamaroneck LLC, DCH Mission Valley LLC, DCH Monmouth LLC, DCH Montclair LLC, DCH Motors LLC, DCH NY Motors LLC, DCH Nanuet LLC, DCH North America Inc., DCH Oxnard 1521 Imports Inc., DCH Riverside-S Inc., DCH Simi Valley Inc., DCH Support Services LLC, DCH TL Holdings LLC, DCH TL NY Holdings LLC, DCH Temecula Imports LLC, DCH Temecula Motors LLC, DCH Thousand Oaks-F Inc., DCH Torrance Imports Inc., Dah Chong Hong CA Trading LLC, Dah Chong Hong Trading Corporation, Daron Motors LLC, Day Auto Group, Downtown LA, Driveway Motors LLC, Elizabeth Collision LLC, Florida SS LLC, Ford Lincoln of Morgantown, Freehold Nissan LLC, Fuse Auto Sales LLC, Hamilton Honda, Hazleton Honda, Hutchins Eugene Nissan Inc., Hutchins Imported Motors Inc., Jaguar Landrover Mission Viejo, LA Motors Holding LLC, LAD Advertising Inc., LAD Carson-N LLC, LAD Mission Viejo-JLR Inc., LAD Mobu Inc., LAD-AU LLC, LAD-MB LLC, LAD-N LLC, LAD-P LLC, LAD-T LLC, LAD-V LLC, LBMP LLC, LFKF LLC, LGPAC Inc., LLL Sales Co LLC, LMBB LLC, LMBP LLC, LMOP LLC, LSTAR LLC, Lithia AcDM Inc., Lithia Aircraft Inc., Lithia Anchorage-C LLC, Lithia Anchorage-H LLC, Lithia Armory Garage LLC, Lithia Auction & Recon LLC, Lithia Auto Services Inc., Lithia Automotive Inc., Lithia BA Holding Inc., Lithia BNM Inc. (nonoperating), Lithia Baierl-S LLC, Lithia Bryan Texas Inc., Lithia Buffalo-A LLC, Lithia CCTF Inc., Lithia CDH Inc., Lithia CIMR Inc., Lithia CJDO Inc., Lithia CJDSA Inc., Lithia CJDSF Inc., Lithia CM Inc., Lithia CO Inc., Lithia CSA Inc., Lithia Community Development Company Inc., Lithia Crater Lake-F Inc., Lithia Crater Lake-M Inc., Lithia DE Inc., Lithia DM Inc., Lithia DMID Inc., Lithia Des Moines-VW LLC, Lithia Dodge of Tri-Cities Inc., Lithia Eatontown-F LLC, Lithia FLCC LLC, Lithia FMF Inc., Lithia Financial Corporation (previously Lithia Leasing Inc. and Lithia Credit Inc.), Lithia Florida Holding Inc., Lithia Ford of Boise Inc., Lithia Fresno Inc., Lithia HDM Inc., Lithia HGF Inc., Lithia HMID Inc., Lithia HPI Inc. (nonoperating), Lithia Hamilton-H LLC, Lithia Hazleton-H LLC, Lithia Idaho Falls-F Inc., Lithia Imports of Anchorage Inc., Lithia JEF Inc., Lithia Klamath Inc., Lithia Klamath-T Inc., Lithia LBGGF Inc., Lithia LHGF Inc., Lithia LSGF Inc., Lithia MBDM Inc., Lithia MMF Inc., Lithia MTLM Inc., Lithia McMurray-C LLC, Lithia Medford HON Inc., Lithia Middletown-L LLC, Lithia Monroeville-A LLC, Lithia Monroeville-C LLC, Lithia Monroeville-F LLC, Lithia Monroeville-V LLC, Lithia Moon-S LLC, Lithia Moon-V LLC, Lithia Morgantown-CJD LLC, Lithia Morgantown-F LLC, Lithia Morgantown-S LLC, Lithia Motors Support Services Inc., Lithia NA Inc., Lithia NC Inc., Lithia ND Acquisition Corp. #1, Lithia ND Acquisition Corp. #3, Lithia ND Acquisition Corp. #4, Lithia NDM Inc., Lithia NF Inc., Lithia NSA Inc., Lithia Northeast Real Estate LLC, Lithia Orchard Park-H LLC, Lithia Paramus-M LLC, Lithia Pittsburgh-S LLC, Lithia Ramsey-B LLC, Lithia Ramsey-L LLC, Lithia Ramsey-M LLC, Lithia Ramsey-T LLC, Lithia Real Estate Inc., Lithia Reno Sub-HYUN Inc., Lithia Reno-CJ LLC, Lithia Reno-VW LLC, Lithia Rose-FT Inc., Lithia SOC Inc., Lithia SSP LLC, Lithia Salmir Inc., Lithia Sea P Inc., Lithia Seaside Inc., Lithia Spokane-B LLC, Lithia Spokane-S LLC, Lithia TA Inc., Lithia TO Inc., Lithia TR Inc., Lithia Uniontown-C LLC, Lithia VAuDM Inc., Lithia VF Inc., Lithia Wexford-H LLC, Lithia of Abilene Inc., Lithia of Anchorage Inc., Lithia of Bend #1 LLC, Lithia of Bend #2 LLC, Lithia of Bennington - 1 LLC, Lithia of Bennington - 2 LLC, Lithia of Bennington - 3 LLC, Lithia of Bennington - 4 LLC, Lithia of Billings II LLC, Lithia of Billings Inc., Lithia of Casper LLC, Lithia of Clear Lake LLC, Lithia of Concord I Inc., Lithia of Concord II Inc., Lithia of Corpus Christi Inc., Lithia of Des Moines Inc., Lithia of Eureka Inc., Lithia of Fairbanks Inc., Lithia of Great Falls Inc., Lithia of Helena Inc., Lithia of Honolulu-A Inc., Lithia of Honolulu-BGMCC LLC, Lithia of Honolulu-F LLC, Lithia of Honolulu-V LLC, Lithia of Killeen LLC, Lithia of Lodi Inc., Lithia of Maui-H LLC, Lithia of Missoula II LLC, Lithia of Missoula III Inc., Lithia of Missoula Inc., Lithia of Pocatello Inc., Lithia of Portland I LLC, Lithia of Portland LLC, Lithia of Robstown LLC, Lithia of Roseburg Inc., Lithia of Santa Rosa Inc., Lithia of Seattle Inc., Lithia of South Central AK Inc., Lithia of Spokane II Inc., Lithia of Spokane Inc., Lithia of Stockton Inc., Lithia of Stockton-V Inc., Lithia of TF Inc., Lithia of Troy LLC, Lithia of Utica - 1 LLC, Lithia of Utica - 2 LLC, Lithia of Utica - 3 LLC, Lithia of Utica - 4 LLC, Lithia of Walnut Creek Inc., Lithia of Wasilla LLC, Lithia of Yorkville - 1 LLC, Lithia of Yorkville - 2 LLC, Lithia of Yorkville - 3 LLC, Lithia of Yorkville - 4 LLC, Lithia of Yorkville - 5 LLC, Medford Insurance LLC, Milford DCH Inc., Northland Ford Inc., PA Real Estate LLC, PA Support Services LLC, Paramus Collision LLC, Paramus World Motors LLC, Personalized Marketing LLC, Prestige Auto Group, RFA Holdings LLC, Ray Laks Acura, Ray Laks Honda, Sacramento-L Inc., Salem-B LLC, Salem-H LLC, Salem-V LLC, Sharlene Realty LLC, Shift Portland LLC, Southern Cascades Finance Corporation, Subaru of Morgantown, Tampa-H LLC, Tustin Motors Inc., Wesley Chapel-H LLC, Wesley Chapel-T LLC, Zelienople Real Estate I L.P., and Zelienople Real Estate L.L.C.. Read More Dominion Energy, Inc. produces and distributes energy in the United States. The company operates through four segments: Dominion Energy Virginia, Gas Distribution, Dominion Energy South Carolina, and Contracted Assets. The Dominion Energy Virginia segment generates, transmits, and distributes regulated electricity to approximately 2.7 million residential, commercial, industrial, and governmental customers in Virginia and North Carolina. The Gas Distribution segment is involved in the regulated natural gas sales, transportation, gathering, storage, and distribution operations in Ohio, West Virginia, North Carolina, Utah, southwestern Wyoming, and southeastern Idaho that serve approximately 3.1 million residential, commercial and industrial customers. It also has nonregulated renewable natural gas facilities in operation. The Dominion Energy South Carolina segment generates, transmits, and distributes electricity to approximately 772,000 customers in the central, southern, and southwestern portions of South Carolina; and distributes natural gas to approximately 419,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers in South Carolina. The Contracted Assets segment is involved in the nonregulated long-term contracted renewable electric generation and solar generation facility development operations; and gas transportation, LNG import, and storage operations, as well as in the liquefaction facility. As of December 31, 2021, the company's portfolio of assets included approximately 30.2 gigawatt of electric generating capacity; 10,700 miles of electric transmission lines; 78,000 miles of electric distribution lines; and 95,700 miles of gas distribution mains and related service facilities. The company was formerly known as Dominion Resources, Inc. Dominion Energy, Inc. was incorporated in 1983 and is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. Invesco Mortgage Capital Inc. is a mortgage-focused REIT externally managed by Invesco Advisors Ltd. Invesco Advisors LTD is a subsidiary of Invesco which is a leading wealth manager and investment company for individuals, high net-worth clients, institutions, public entities, corporations, and governments. The firm created Invesco Mortgage Capital, Inc to focus its decades of experience in the mortgage markets to generate a steady stream of cash for its investors. The company was incorporated in 2008 in order to acquire, finance, and manage a portfolio of mortgage-backed securities and mortgages. Invesco believes that achieving the full potential of the mortgage market requires a blend of discipline, structure, and creativity because of long-term structural changes in the way real estate transactions and ownership are handled. The units of Invesco Mortgage Capital tend to yield high-double-digits and have paid more than $26 per unit on a split-adjusted basis since the dividend was initiated. The objective is to provide risk-adjusted returns through dividends and capital appreciation using the combined strengths of three key Invesco groups; the in-house real estate team, the Worldwide Fixed Income team, and subsidiary WL Ross & Co. Invesco Mortgage Capital is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. As of Q3 2022, Invesco Mortgage Capital Inc held $4.9 billion in assets, $4.7 billion of which were listed as agency RMBS. Invesco Mortgage Capital Inc. elected to be taxed as a REIT and so distributes at least 90% of its income to shareholders each year. The fund seeks to generate a high level of income while maintaining a stable portfolio and book value within a dynamic market. The investment strategy is opportunistic and not limited to a single type of mortgage security and so provides greater diversification than most other REITs as well. Invesco invests in a blend of residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) and commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) that are and are not guaranteed by a U.S. government agency or federally chartered corporation. The fund also invests in credit risk transfer securities, residential and commercial mortgage loans, and assorted real estate-related financing. Among the opportunities, the fund is pursuing are commercial real estate loan origination, securitizing residential mortgages, and risk-sharing arrangements with federal housing authorities. Citizens Financial Group, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Citizens Bank, National Association that provides retail and commercial banking products and services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, corporations, and institutions in the United States. The company operates in two segments, Consumer Banking and Commercial Banking. The Consumer Banking segment offers deposit products, mortgage and home equity lending products, credit cards, business loans, wealth management, and investment services; and auto, education, and point-of-sale finance loans, as well as digital deposit products. This segment serves its customers through telephone service centers, as well as through its online and mobile platforms. The Commercial Banking segment provides various financial products and solutions, including lending and leasing, deposit and treasury management services, foreign exchange, and interest rate and commodity risk management solutions, as well as syndicated loans, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and debt and equity capital markets services. This segment serves government banking, not-for-profit, healthcare, technology, professionals, oil and gas, asset finance, franchise finance, asset-based lending, commercial real estate, private equity, and sponsor finance industries. It operates approximately 1,200 branches in 14 states and the District of Columbia; 114 retail and commercial non-branch offices in national markets; and approximately 3,300 automated teller machines. The company was formerly known as RBS Citizens Financial Group, Inc. and changed its name to Citizens Financial Group, Inc. in April 2014. Citizens Financial Group, Inc. was founded in 1828 and is headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island. CarMax, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a retailer of used vehicles in the United States. The company operates through two segments, CarMax Sales Operations and CarMax Auto Finance. It offers customers a range of makes and models of used vehicles, including domestic, imported, and luxury vehicles, as well as hybrid and electric vehicles; and extended protection plans to customers at the time of sale, as well as sells vehicles that are approximately 10 years old and has more than 100,000 miles through wholesale auctions. The company also provides reconditioning and vehicle repair services; and financing alternatives for retail customers across a range of credit spectrum through its CarMax Auto Finance and arrangements with various financial institutions. As of February 28, 2022, it operated approximately 230 used car stores. CarMax, Inc. was founded in 1993 and is based in Richmond, Virginia. The following companies are subsidiares of Caterpillar: Advanced Tri-Gen Power Systems LLC, Anchor Coupling Inc., Asia Power Systems (Tianjin) Ltd., AsiaTrak (Tianjin) Ltd., Banco Caterpillar S.A., Berg Propulsion International Pte Ltd., Bucyrus, Bucyrus Australia Surface Pty. Ltd., Bucyrus Europe Holdings Ltd., Bucyrus Europe Limited, Bucyrus International (Chile) Limitada, Bucyrus International (Peru) S.A., Bucyrus Mining Australia Pty. Ltd., Bucyrus Mining China LLC, Bucyrus UK Limited, Cat Rental Kyushu LLC, Caterpillar (Africa) (Proprietary) Limited, Caterpillar (China) Financial Leasing Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (China) Investment Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (China) Machinery Components Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (HK) Limited, Caterpillar (Huainan) Machinery Service Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (Langfang) Mining Equipment Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (Luxembourg) Investment Co. S.a r.l., Caterpillar (NI) Limited, Caterpillar (Newberry) LLC, Caterpillar (Qingzhou) Ltd., Caterpillar (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (Suzhou) Logistics Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (Thailand) Limited, Caterpillar (U.K.) Limited, Caterpillar (Wujiang) Ltd., Caterpillar (Xuzhou) Ltd., Caterpillar (Zhengzhou) Ltd., Caterpillar Acquisition Holding Corp., Caterpillar Americas C.V., Caterpillar Americas Co., Caterpillar Americas Funding Inc., Caterpillar Americas Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Asia Limited, Caterpillar Asia Pacific L.P., Caterpillar Asia Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar Asset Intelligence LLC, Caterpillar Belgium S.A., Caterpillar Brasil Comercio de Maquinas e Pecas Ltda., Caterpillar Brasil Ltda., Caterpillar Brazil LLC, Caterpillar Castings Kiel GmbH, Caterpillar Centro de Formacion S.L., Caterpillar China Limited, Caterpillar Commercial Australia Pty. Ltd., Caterpillar Commercial LLC, Caterpillar Commercial Northern Europe Limited, Caterpillar Commercial S.A., Caterpillar Commercial S.A.R.L., Caterpillar Commercial Services S.A.R.L., Caterpillar Communications LLC, Caterpillar Corporativo Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Cote DIvoire, Caterpillar Credito S.A. de C.V. SOFOM E.N.R., Caterpillar DC Pension Trust Limited, Caterpillar Digital Services & Solutions SARL, Caterpillar Distribution International LLC, Caterpillar Distribution Services Europe B.V.B.A., Caterpillar East Real Estate Holding Ltd., Caterpillar Emissions Solutions Inc., Caterpillar Energy Solutions Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar Energy Solutions GmbH, Caterpillar Energy Solutions Inc., Caterpillar Energy Solutions S.A., Caterpillar Energy System Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Engine Systems Inc., Caterpillar Equipos Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Eurasia LLC, Caterpillar FS (QFC) LLC, Caterpillar Finance France S.A., Caterpillar Finance Kabushiki Kaisha, Caterpillar Financial Acquisition Funding LLC, Caterpillar Financial Aftermarket Solutions Corporation, Caterpillar Financial Australia Leasing Pty Limited, Caterpillar Financial Australia Limited, Caterpillar Financial Commercial Account Corporation, Caterpillar Financial Corporacion Financiera S.A. E.F.C., Caterpillar Financial Dealer Funding LLC, Caterpillar Financial Funding Corporation, Caterpillar Financial Kazakhstan Limited Liability Partnership, Caterpillar Financial Leasing (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Financial New Zealand Limited, Caterpillar Financial Nordic Services AB, Caterpillar Financial Nova Scotia Corporation, Caterpillar Financial OOO, Caterpillar Financial Receivables Corporation, Caterpillar Financial Renting S.A., Caterpillar Financial SARL, Caterpillar Financial Services (Dubai) Limited, Caterpillar Financial Services (Ireland) plc, Caterpillar Financial Services (UK) Limited, Caterpillar Financial Services Argentina S.A., Caterpillar Financial Services Asia Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar Financial Services Belgium S.P.R.L., Caterpillar Financial Services CR s.r.o., Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation, Caterpillar Financial Services GmbH, Caterpillar Financial Services India Private Limited, Caterpillar Financial Services Leasing ULC, Caterpillar Financial Services Limited Les Services Financiers Caterpillar Limitee, Caterpillar Financial Services Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Caterpillar Financial Services Netherlands B.V., Caterpillar Financial Services Norway AS, Caterpillar Financial Services Philippines Inc., Caterpillar Financial Services Poland Sp. z o.o., Caterpillar Financial Services South Africa (Pty) Limited, Caterpillar Financial UK Acquisition Funding Partners, Caterpillar Financial Ukraine LLC, Caterpillar Fluid Systems S.r.l., Caterpillar Fomento Comercial Ltda., Caterpillar Forest Products Inc., Caterpillar France S.A.S., Caterpillar GB L.L.C., Caterpillar Global Investments S.a r.l., Caterpillar Global Mining America LLC, Caterpillar Global Mining Equipamentos De Mineracao do Brasil Ltda., Caterpillar Global Mining Equipment LLC, Caterpillar Global Mining Europe GmbH, Caterpillar Global Mining Expanded Products Pty Ltd, Caterpillar Global Mining Germany Holdings GmbH, Caterpillar Global Mining HMS GmbH, Caterpillar Global Mining Holdings GmbH, Caterpillar Global Mining Hong Kong AFC Manufacturing Holding Co. Limited, Caterpillar Global Mining Hong Kong Limited, Caterpillar Global Mining LLC, Caterpillar Global Mining Mexico LLC, Caterpillar Global Mining Pty. Ltd., Caterpillar Global Mining SARL, Caterpillar Global Mining U.S. Parts LLC, Caterpillar Global Services LLC, Caterpillar Group Services S.A., Caterpillar Holding (France) S.A.S., Caterpillar Holding Germany GmbH, Caterpillar Holdings Australia Pty. Ltd., Caterpillar Hungary Components Manufacturing Ltd., Caterpillar Hydraulics Italia S.r.l., Caterpillar IPX LLC, Caterpillar IRB LLC, Caterpillar Impact Products Limited, Caterpillar India Private Limited, Caterpillar Industrial Inc., Caterpillar Industrias Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Industries (Pty) Ltd, Caterpillar Insurance Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Insurance Company, Caterpillar Insurance Holdings Inc., Caterpillar Insurance Services Corporation, Caterpillar International Finance Designated Activity Company, Caterpillar International Finance Luxembourg Holding S. a r.l., Caterpillar International Finance Luxembourg S. a r.l., Caterpillar International Holding S. a r.l., Caterpillar International Luxembourg I S. a r.l., Caterpillar International Luxembourg II S. a r.l., Caterpillar International Product SARL, Caterpillar International Services Corporation, Caterpillar International Services del Peru S.A., Caterpillar Investment Limited, Caterpillar Investment One SARL, Caterpillar Investment Two SARL, Caterpillar Investments, Caterpillar Japan LLC, Caterpillar Latin America Services S.R.L., Caterpillar Latin America Services de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Latin America Services de Panama S. de R.L., Caterpillar Latin America Servicios de Chile Limitada, Caterpillar Latin America Support Services S. DE R.L., Caterpillar Leasing (Thailand) Limited, Caterpillar Leasing Chile S.A., Caterpillar Leasing GmbH (Leipzig), Caterpillar Leasing Operativo Limitada, Caterpillar Life Insurance Company, Caterpillar Logistics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Logistics (UK) Limited, Caterpillar Logistics Inc., Caterpillar Logistics ML Services France S.A.S., Caterpillar Logistics Services China Limited, Caterpillar Luxembourg Group S.ar.l., Caterpillar Luxembourg LLC, Caterpillar Luxembourg S.a r.l., Caterpillar Machinery Nantong Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Marine Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar Marine Asset Intelligence, Caterpillar Marine Power UK Limited, Caterpillar Marine Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Maroc SARL, Caterpillar Materiels Routiers SAS, Caterpillar Mexico LLC, Caterpillar Mexico S.A. de C.V., Caterpillar Mining Canada ULC, Caterpillar Mining Chile Servicios Limitada, Caterpillar Motoren (Guangdong) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Motoren GmbH & Co. KG, Caterpillar Motoren Henstedt-Ulzburg GmbH, Caterpillar Motoren Rostock GmbH, Caterpillar Motoren Verwaltungs-GmbH, Caterpillar Netherlands Holding B.V., Caterpillar North America C.V., Caterpillar Operator Training Ltd., Caterpillar Overseas Credit Corporation SARL, Caterpillar Overseas Investment Holding SARL, Caterpillar Overseas Limited, Caterpillar Overseas SARL, Caterpillar Panama Services S.A., Caterpillar Paving Products Inc., Caterpillar Paving Products Xuzhou Ltd., Caterpillar Pension Trust Limited, Caterpillar Poland Sp. z o.o., Caterpillar Power Generation Systems (Bangladesh) Limited, Caterpillar Power Generation Systems L.L.C., Caterpillar Power Systems Inc., Caterpillar Power Ventures International Ltd., Caterpillar Precision Seals Korea, Caterpillar Prodotti Stradali S.r.l., Caterpillar Product Services Corporation, Caterpillar Propulsion AB, Caterpillar Propulsion International Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Propulsion Italy S.R.L., Caterpillar Propulsion Namibia (Proprietary) Limited, Caterpillar Propulsion Production AB, Caterpillar Propulsion Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar Propulsion Singapore Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar R&D Center (China) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Ramos Arizpe LLC, Caterpillar Ramos Arizpe S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Ramos Arizpe Servicios S.A. de C.V., Caterpillar Reman Powertrain Indiana LLC, Caterpillar Remanufacturing Drivetrain LLC, Caterpillar Remanufacturing Services (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Renting France S.A.S., Caterpillar Reynosa S.A. de C.V., Caterpillar SARL, Caterpillar Services Germany GmbH, Caterpillar Servicios Limitada, Caterpillar Servicios Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Servizi Italia Srl, Caterpillar Shrewsbury Limited, Caterpillar Skinningrove Limited, Caterpillar Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd., Caterpillar Special Services Belgium S.P.R.L., Caterpillar Switchgear Americas LLC, Caterpillar Switchgear Holding Inc., Caterpillar Tianjin Ltd., Caterpillar Torreon S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Tosno L.L.C., Caterpillar Transmissions France S.A.R.L., Caterpillar Tunneling Canada Holdings Ltd., Caterpillar Tunnelling Canada Corporation, Caterpillar Tunnelling Europe Limited, Caterpillar UK Employee Trust Limited, Caterpillar UK Engines Company Limited, Caterpillar UK Group Limited, Caterpillar UK Holdings Limited, Caterpillar Undercarriage (Xuzhou) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Underground Mining Pty. Ltd., Caterpillar Used Equipment Services Inc., Caterpillar Venture Capital Inc., Caterpillar Work Tools B.V., Caterpillar Work Tools Inc., Caterpillar World Trading Corporation, Caterpillar Xuzhou, Caterpillar of Australia Pty. Ltd., Caterpillar of Canada Corporation, Caterpillar of Delaware Inc., Centre de Distribution de Wallonie SPRL, CleanAir Systems, Downer Freight Rail, ECM Railway Evolution Romania s.r.l., ECM S.p.A., EDC European Excavator Design Center GmbH, EMC Holding Corp., EMD International Holdings Inc., ERA Information & Entertainment (BVI) Limited, ERA Mining Machinery Limited, Electro-Motive Diesel Limited, Electro-Motive Locomotive Technologies LLC, Electro-Motive Technical Consulting Co. (Beijing) Ltd., Energy Services International Limited, Equipos de Acuna S.A. de C.V., Eurenov S.A.S., F. G. Wilson (Proprietary) Limited, F. Perkins Limited, FG Wilson (Engineering) Limited, GB Holdco (China) Inc., GFCM Comercial Mexico S.A. de C.V. SOFOM E.N.R., GFCM Servicios S.A. de C.V., Gremada Industries - Assets, Hong Kong Siwei Holdings Limited, Inmobiliaria Conek S.A. de C.V., JCS Co., Kemper Valve & Fittings Corp., Leo Inc., Locomotive Demand Power Pty Ltd., Locomotoras Progress Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Lovat, M2M Data Corporation, MGE Equipamentos & Servicos Ferroviarios, MWM, MWM Austria GmbH, MWM Benelux B.V., MWM Energy Australia Pty Ltd, MWM France S.A.S, MWM Real Estate GmbH, MaK Americas Inc., MaK Americas Inc. (Canada), Magnum Power Products LLC, Marble, Maschinenbau Kiel GmbH, Mec-Track S.r.l., Metalmark Financial Services Limited, Motoren Steffens GmbH, Nippon Caterpillar LLC, P. T. Solar Services Indonesia, PT Caterpillar Finance Indonesia, PT. Bucyrus Indonesia, PT. Caterpillar Indonesia, PT. Caterpillar Indonesia Batam, PT. Caterpillar Remanufacturing Indonesia, Perkins Engines, Perkins Engines (Asia Pacific) Pte Ltd, Perkins Engines Group Limited, Perkins Engines Inc., Perkins Group Limited, Perkins Holdings Limited LLC, Perkins India Private Limited, Perkins International Inc., Perkins Japan LLC, Perkins Limited, Perkins Machinery (Changshu) Co. Ltd., Perkins Motores do Brasil Ltda., Perkins Power Systems Technology (Wuxi) Co. Ltd., Perkins Small Engines (Wuxi) Co. Ltd., Perkins Small Engines LLC, Perkins Small Engines Limited, Perkins Technology Inc., Progress Metal Reclamation Company, Progress Rail Arabia Limited Company, Progress Rail Australia Pty Ltd, Progress Rail Canada Corporation, Progress Rail Equipamentos e Servicos Ferroviarios do Brasil Ltda., Progress Rail Equipment Leasing Corporation, Progress Rail Holdings Inc., Progress Rail Innovations Private Limited, Progress Rail Inspection & Information Systems GmbH, Progress Rail Inspection & Information Systems S.r.l., Progress Rail International Corp., Progress Rail Leasing Canada Corporation, Progress Rail Leasing Corporation, Progress Rail Leasing de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Progress Rail Locomotivas (do Brasil) Ltda., Progress Rail Locomotive Canada Co., Progress Rail Locomotive Chile SpA, Progress Rail Locomotive Inc., Progress Rail Maintenance de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Progress Rail Manufacturing Corporation, Progress Rail Raceland Corporation, Progress Rail Rocklin Corporation, Progress Rail SA Proprietary Limited, Progress Rail Services Corporation, Progress Rail Services Holdings Corp., Progress Rail Services LLC, Progress Rail Services UK Limited, Progress Rail Switching Services LLC, Progress Rail Transcanada Corporation, Progress Rail Welding Corporation, Progress Rail Wildwood LLC, Progress Rail de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Pyroban Group, Pyroban Group, Pyrrha Investments B.V., Pyrrha Investments Limited, S&L Railroad LLC, SCM Singapore Holdings Pte. Ltd., SPL Software Alliance LLC, Sabre Engines, Servicios de Turbinas Solar S. de R.L. de C.V., Shandong SEM Machinery Co. Ltd., Solar Turbines, Solar Turbines, Solar Turbines (Beijing) Trading Services Co. Ltd., Solar Turbines (Thailand) Ltd., Solar Turbines CIS Limited Liability Company, Solar Turbines Canada Ltd./Ltee., Solar Turbines Central Asia Limited Liability Partnership, Solar Turbines EAME s.r.o., Solar Turbines Egypt Limited Liability Company, Solar Turbines Europe S.A., Solar Turbines India Private Limited, Solar Turbines International Company, Solar Turbines Italy S.R.L., Solar Turbines Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Solar Turbines Middle East Limited, Solar Turbines New Zealand Limited, Solar Turbines Saudi Arabia Limited, Solar Turbines Services Company, Solar Turbines Services Nigeria Limited, Solar Turbines Services of Argentina S.R.L., Solar Turbines Switzerland Sagl, Solar Turbines Trinidad & Tobago Limited, Solar Turbines West-Africa SARL, Tangshan DBT Machinery Co. Ltd., Tecnologia Modificada S.A. de C.V., Towmotor Corporation, Traction & Mining Motor Repairs Pty Ltd, Turbinas Solar S.A. de C.V., Turbinas Solar de Colombia S.A., Turbinas Solar de Venezuela C.A., Turbo Tecnologia de Reparaciones S.A. de C.V., Turbomach, Turbomach Endustriyel Gaz Turbinleri Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited, Turbomach France SARL, Turbomach GmbH, Turbomach Netherlands B.V., Turbomach Pakistan (Private) Limited, Turbomach S.A. Unipersonal, Turbomach Sp. Z o.o., Turner Powertrain Systems Limited, UK Hose Assembly Limited, Underground Imaging Technologies Inc, United Industries LLC, VALA Inc., Vasky Energy Ltd., Wealdstone Engineering, Weir - Oil & Gas Division, West Virginia Auto Shredding Inc., Western Gear Machinery LLC, Wetland Sustainability Fund I LLC, Williams Technologies, Yard Club, Zhengzhou Siwei Mechanical and Electrical Equipment Sales Co. Ltd., and okyo Rental Ltd.. Read More Aetna Inc. operates as a health care benefits company in the United States. It operates through three segments: Health Care, Group Insurance, and Large Case Pensions. The Health Care segment offers medical, pharmacy benefit management service, dental, behavioral health, and vision plans on an insured and employer-funded basis. It also provides point-of-service, preferred provider organization, health maintenance organization, and indemnity benefit plans, as well as health savings accounts and consumer-directed health plans. In addition, this segment offers Medicare and Medicaid products and services, as well as other medical products, such as medical management and data analytics services, medical stop loss insurance, workers' compensation administrative services, and products that provide access to its provider networks in select geographies. The Group Insurance segment offers life insurance products, including group term life insurance, voluntary spouse and dependent term life insurance, group universal life insurance, and accidental death and dismemberment insurance; disability insurance products; and long-term care insurance products, which provide the benefits to cover the cost of care in private home settings, adult day care, assisted living, or nursing facilities. The Large Case Pensions segment manages various retirement products comprising pension and annuity products primarily for tax-qualified pension plans. The company provides its products and services to employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, health care providers, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups, and expatriates. Aetna Inc. was founded in 1853 and is based in Hartford, Connecticut. Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. provides investor communications and technology-driven solutions for the financial services industry. The company's Investor Communication Solutions segment processes and distributes proxy materials to investors in equity securities and mutual funds, as well as facilitates related vote processing services; and distributes regulatory reports, class action, and corporate action/reorganization event information, as well as tax reporting solutions. It also offers ProxyEdge, an electronic proxy delivery and voting solution; data-driven solutions and an end-to-end platform for content management, composition, and omni-channel distribution of regulatory, marketing, and transactional information, as well as mutual fund trade processing services; data and analytics solutions; solutions for public corporations and mutual funds; SEC filing and capital markets transaction services; registrar, stock transfer, and record-keeping services; and omni-channel customer communications solutions, as well as operates Broadridge Communications Cloud platform that creates, delivers, and manages communications and customer engagement activities. The company's Global Technology and Operations segment provides solutions that automate the front-to-back transaction lifecycle of equity, mutual fund, fixed income, foreign exchange and exchange-traded derivatives, order capture and execution, trade confirmation, margin, cash management, clearance and settlement, reference data management, reconciliations, securities financing and collateral management, asset servicing, compliance and regulatory reporting, portfolio accounting, and custody-related services. This segment also offers business process outsourcing services; technology solutions, such portfolio management, compliance, fee billing, and operational support solutions; and capital market and wealth management solutions. The company was founded in 1962 and is headquartered in Lake Success, New York. GMS Inc. distributes wallboard, ceilings, steel framing and complementary construction products in the United States and Canada. The company offers ceilings products, including suspended mineral fibers, soft fibers, and metal ceiling systems primarily used in offices, hotels, hospitals, retail facilities, schools, and various other commercial and institutional buildings. It also provides steel framing products, such as steel tracks, studs, and various other steel products used to frame the interior walls of a commercial or institutional building; and insulation, lumber and other wood products, ready-mix joint compound, and various other interior construction products, as well as ancillary products comprising tools, fasteners, and safety products. In addition, the company distributes acoustical ceilings, steel framing, insulation, and related building products, as well as commercial and residential building materials. It serves professional contractors and homebuilders. As of April 30, 2022, the company operated 300 branches across 44 states and the District of Columbia, as well as 6 provinces in Canada. It also operates a network of approximately 300 distribution centers. GMS Inc. was founded in 1971 and is headquartered in Tucker, Georgia. The following companies are subsidiares of Illinois Tool Works: A V Co 1 Limited, A V Co 2 Limited, A V Co 3 Limited, ACCU-LUBE Manufacturing GmbH - Schmiermittel und -gerate -, AIP/BI Holdings Inc., Accessories Marketing Holding Corp., Advanced Molding Company Inc., Allen France SAS, Alpine Engineered Products, Alpine Systems Corporation, Anaerobicos S.r.l., AppliChem GmbH, Avery Berkel France, Avery India Limited, Avery Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Avery Weigh Tronix, Avery Weigh-Tronix Finance Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix International Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix LLC, Avery Weigh-Tronix Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Properties Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Suzhou Weighing Technology Co. Ltd., Azon Limited, B.C. Immo, Beijing Miller Electric Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Berkel Ireland Limited, Berrington UK, Brapenta Eletronica Ltda., Brooks Instrument B.V., Brooks Instrument GmbH, Brooks Instrument KFT, Brooks Instrument Korea Ltd., Brooks Instrument LLC, Brooks Instrument Shanghai Co. Ltd, Buell Industries Inc., CCI Realty Company, CFC Europe GmbH, CS Australia Pty Limited, CS Mexico Holding Company S DE RL DE CV, Calvia Spolka z Ograniczona Odpowiedzialnosci, Capital Ventures Australasia S.a r.l, Capmax Logistica S.A. de C.V., Celeste Industries Corporation, Coeur, Coeur Asia Limited, Coeur Holding Company, Coeur Inc., Coeur Shanghai Medical Appliance Trading Co. Ltd, Compagnie Hobart, Compagnie de Materiel et d'Equipements Techniques-Comet, Constructions Isothermiques Bontami C.I.B., Crane Carrier Company, Denison Mayes Group Limited, Despatch Industries, Diagraph Corporation Sdn. Bhd, Diagraph ITW Mexico S. de R.L. De C.V., Diagraph Mexico S.A. DE C.V., Dongguan Ark-Les Electric Components Co. Ltd., Dongguan CK Branding Co. Ltd., Duo Fast de Espana S.A.U., Duo-Fast Korea Co. Ltd., Duo-Fast LLC, E.C.S. d.o.o., E2M Production B.V.., E2M Technologies B.V.., E2M Technologies Inc.., ECS Cable Protection Sp. Zoo, ELRO Grosskuchen GmbH, ELRO Holding AG, ELRO-WERKE AG, Elro Group, Eltex-Elektrostatik-Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Envases Multipac S.A. de C.V., Eurotec Srl, Exhibit 21, FEG Investments L.L.C., Filtertek De Mexico Holding Inc., Filtertek De Mexico S.A. de C.V., Filtertek SAS, GC Financement SA, Gamko B.V., Gun Hwa Platech Taicang Co. Ltd., HOBART Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Hartness International, Hobart Andina S.A.S., Hobart Belgium B.V., Hobart Brothers International Chile Limitada, Hobart Brothers LLC, Hobart Dayton Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Hobart Food Equipment Co. Ltd., Hobart International Singapore Pte. Ltd., Hobart Japan K.K., Hobart Korea LLC, Hobart LLC, Hobart Nederland B.V., Hobart Sales & Service Inc., Hobart Scandinavia ApS, Hobart Techniek B.V., Horis, ILC Investments Holdings Inc., ITW AEP LLC, ITW AOC LLC, ITW Aircraft Investments Inc., ITW Ampang Industries Philippines Inc., ITW Appliance Components EOOD, ITW Appliance Components S.A. de C.V., ITW Appliance Components S.r.l.a, ITW Appliance Components d.o.o., ITW Australia Holdings Pty Ltd, ITW Australia Property Holdings Pty Ltd., ITW Australia Pty Ltd, ITW Automotive Components Chongqing Co. Ltd., ITW Automotive Components Langfang Co. Ltd., ITW Automotive Japan K.K., ITW Automotive Korea LLC, ITW Automotive Parts Shanghai Co. Ltd, ITW Automotive Products GmbH, ITW Automotive Products Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Bailly Comte, ITW Befestigungssysteme GmbH, ITW Belgium B.V., ITW Brazilian Nominee L.L.C., ITW Building Components Group Inc., ITW CER, ITW CP Distribution Center Holland BV, ITW CS UK Ltd., ITW Canada Inc., ITW Celeste Inc., ITW Chemical Products Ltda, ITW Chemical Products Scandinavia ApS, ITW China Investment Company Limited, ITW Colombia S.A.S., ITW Construction Products AB, ITW Construction Products AS, ITW Construction Products ApS, ITW Construction Products CZ s.r.o., ITW Construction Products Italy Srl, ITW Construction Products OU, ITW Construction Products OY, ITW Construction Products Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW Construction Products Singapore Pte. Ltd., ITW Construction Services Manila Inc., ITW Contamination Control B.V., ITW Contamination Control Wujiang Co. Ltd., ITW Covid Security Group Inc., ITW DS Investments Inc., ITW DelFast do Brasil Ltda., ITW Denmark ApS, ITW Deutschland GmbH, ITW Diagraph GmbH, ITW Dynatec, ITW Dynatec Adhesive Equipment Suzhou Co. Ltd., ITW Dynatec GmbH, ITW Dynatec Kabushiki Kaisha, ITW EAE B.V., ITW EAE Mexico S de RL de CV, ITW EF&C France SAS, ITW EF&C Selb GmbH, ITW EU Holdings Ltd., ITW Electronic Business Asia Co. Limited, ITW Electronic Components/Products Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW Electronics Suzhou Co. Ltd., ITW Epsilon Sarl, ITW Espana S.L., ITW European Finance Co. Ltd., ITW European Finance II Co. Ltd., ITW European Finance III Co. Ltd., ITW FEG Hong Kong Limited, ITW FEG do Brasil Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW Fastener Products GmbH, ITW Fluids and Hygiene Solutions Ltda., ITW Food Equipment Group LLC, ITW GH LLC, ITW GSE ApS, ITW GSE Inc., ITW Gamma Sarl, ITW German Management LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings Y Compania Sociedad en Comandita por Acciones, ITW Global Investments Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Europe GmbH, ITW Global Tire Repair Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Japan K.K., ITW Graphics Asia Limited, ITW Graphics Thailand Ltd., ITW Great Britain Investment & Licensing Holding Company, ITW Group France Luxembourg S.ar.l., ITW HLP Thailand Co. Ltd., ITW Holding Quimica B.C. S.L. Sole Shareholder Company, ITW Holdings Australia L.P., ITW Holdings I Limited, ITW Holdings II Limited, ITW Holdings III Limited, ITW Holdings IV Limited, ITW Holdings IX Limited, ITW Holdings Inc., ITW Holdings V Limited, ITW Holdings VI Limited, ITW Holdings VII Limited, ITW Holdings VIII Limited, ITW Holdings X Limited, ITW Holdings XI Limited, ITW ILC Holdings I Inc., ITW IPG Investments LLC, ITW Imaden Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW India Private Limited, ITW International Holdings LLC, ITW Invest Holding GmbH, ITW Ireland Holdings Unlimited Company, ITW Ireland Unlimited Company, ITW Italy Holding Srl, ITW Japan Ltd., ITW Korea LLC, ITW LLC & Co. KG, ITW Limited, ITW Lys Fusion S.r.l., ITW Materials Technology Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW Meritex Sdn. Bhd., ITW Metal Fasteners S.L., ITW Mexico Holding Company S. De R.L. de C.V., ITW Mexico Holdings LLC, ITW Morlock GmbH, ITW Mortgage Investments II Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments III Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments IV Inc., ITW Netherlands Administration BV, ITW Netherlands Beta B.V., ITW Netherlands Finance Alpha BV, ITW New Universal LLC, ITW New Zealand, ITW Ningbo Components & Fastenings Systems Co. Ltd., ITW Novadan Sp. Z.o.o., ITW PPF Brasil Adesivos Ltda., ITW Packaging Technology China Co. Ltd., ITW Participations S.a r.l., ITW Pension Funds Trustee Company, ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Japan Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Korea Limited, ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids OOO, ITW Performance Polymers ApS, ITW Performance Polymers Wujiang Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers and Fluids Group FZE, ITW Peru S.A.C., ITW Poly Mex S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Polymers Sealants North America Inc., ITW Pronovia s.r.o., ITW Pte. Ltd., ITW Qufu Automotive Cooling Systems Co. Ltd., ITW Real Estate Germany GmbH, ITW Residuals III L.L.C., ITW Residuals IV L.L.C., ITW Rivex, ITW SMPI, ITW SPG Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Simco-Ion Shenzhen Co. Ltd., ITW Slovakia s.r.o., ITW Spain Holdings S.L., ITW Specialty Film LLC, ITW Specialty Films France, ITW Specialty Materials Suzhou Co. Ltd., ITW Sverige AB, ITW Sweden Holding AB, ITW Test & Measurement Equipment Shanghai Co. Ltd, ITW Test & Measurement GmbH, ITW Test and Measurement Italia Srl, ITW Test and Measurement Services Industry and Trade Ltd., ITW Texwipe Philippines Inc., ITW Thermal Films Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW UK, ITW UK Finance Beta Limited, ITW UK Finance Delta Limited, ITW UK Finance Gamma Limited, ITW UK Finance Limited, ITW UK Finance Zeta Ltd., ITW UK II Limited, ITW Universal II LLC, ITW Welding, ITW Welding AB, ITW Welding GmbH, ITW Welding Products B.V., ITW Welding Products Group FZE, ITW Welding Products Group S. DE R.L. De C.V., ITW Welding Products Italy Srl, ITW Welding Products Limited Liability Company, ITW Welding Produtos Para Solgdagem Ltda., ITW Welding Singapore Pte. Ltd., ITW de France, ITW do Brasil Industrial e Comercial Ltda., Illinois Tool Works Chile Limitada, Illinois Tool Works ITW Nederland B.V., Illinois Tool Works Inc., Impar Comercio E Representacoes Ltda., Industrie Plastic Elsasser GmbH, Inmobiliaria Cit. S.A. de C.F., Innova Temperlite Servicios S.A. de C.V., Innovacion y Transformacion Automotriz S.A. de C.V., Instron Brasil Equipamentos Cientificos Ltda., Instron Foreign Sales Corp. Limited, Instron France S.A.S., Instron GmbH, Instron Japan Company Ltd., Instron Korea LLC, Instron Shanghai Ltd., Instron Thailand Limited, International Leasing Company LLC, Isolenge - ITW Sistemas de Isolamento Termico Ltda., Itw Spraytec, KCPL Mauritius Holdings, Kester, Kleinmann GmbH, Krafft S.L., Loma Systems, Loma Systems BV, Loma Systems Canada Inc., Loma Systems sro, Lombard Pressings Limited, Lumex Inc., Lys Fusion Poland Sp. z.o.o., M&C Specialties Co., MAGNAFLUX GmbH, MEHB Holdings Limited, MGHG Property LLC, MTS 2 LLC., MTS 3 LLC., MTS China Holdings LLC, MTS Europe Holdings LLC, MTS Holdings France S.a.r.l., MTS Japan Ltd.., MTS Korea Inc.., MTS Systems China Co. Ltd., MTS Systems Corporation, MTS Systems Danmark ApS., MTS Systems Europe B.V., MTS Systems Finance C.V.., MTS Systems Germany GmbH, MTS Systems Holding B.V.., MTS Systems Hong Kong Incorporated, MTS Systems Limited, MTS Systems Norden Aktiebolag, MTS Systems S.r.l, MTS Systems., MTS Systems.., MTS Sytems Do Brazil, MTS Testing Solutions India Private Limited., MTS Testing Systems Canada Ltd., Manufacturing Avancee S.A., Meritex Technology Suzhou Co. Ltd., Meurer Verpackungssysteme GmbH, Miller Electric Mfg. LLC, Miller Insurance Ltd., NDT Holding LLC, NOVADAN APS, North Star Imaging Inc., Nova Chimica S.r.l., Orbitalum Tools GmbH, PENTA-91 OOO, PR. A. I. Srl, PT ITW Construction Products Indonesia, Pacific Concept Industries Limited Enping, Panreac Quimica S.L., Paslode Fasteners Shanghai Co. Ltd., Peerless Machinery Corp., Polyrey, Premark FEG L.L.C., Premark HII Holdings LLC, Premark International, Premark International LLC, Prolex Sociedad Anonima, QSA Global Inc., Quimica Industrial Mediterranea S.L., R&D Engineering A/S., R&D Prague s.r.o., R&D Steel ApS., R&D Test Systems A/S., R&D Tools and Structures A/S., RDGDK Engineering Private Limited, Ramset Fasteners Hong Kong Ltd., Rapid Cook LLC, Refrigeration France, S.E.E. Sistemas Industria E Comercio Ltda., ST Mexico Holdings LLC, Sealant Systems International Inc., Sentinel Asia Yuhan Hoesa, Shanghai ITW Plastic & Metal Co. Ltd, Simco Japan Inc., Simco Nederland B.V., Societe de Prospection et dInventions Techniques SPIT, Speedline Holdings I Inc., Speedline Holdings I LLC, Speedline Technologies GmbH, Speedline Technologies Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Speedline Technologies Mexico Services S. de R.L. de C.V., Stokvis Celix Portugal Unipessoal LDA, Stokvis Danmark ApS, Stokvis Holdings S.A.R.L., Stokvis Promi s.r.o, Stokvis Prostick Tapes Private Limited, Stokvis Tapes B.V., Stokvis Tapes Benelux B.V., Stokvis Tapes Deutschland GmbH, Stokvis Tapes France, Stokvis Tapes Hong Kong Co. Limited, Stokvis Tapes Italia s.r.l., Stokvis Tapes Limited, Stokvis Tapes Limited Liability Company, Stokvis Tapes Norge AS, Stokvis Tapes Oy, Stokvis Tapes Polska Sp Z.O.O., Stokvis Tapes Shanghai Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes Sverige AB, Stokvis Tapes Taiwan Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes Tianjin Co. Ltd., Stolvis Holdings II S.A.R.L., Subsidiaries, Technopack Industria Comercio Consultoria e Representacoes Ltda., Teknek China Limited, Teknek Japan Limited, Teksaleco Ltd., The Miller Group Ltd, Thirode Grandes Cuisines Poligny, Tien Tai Electrode Co. Ltd., Tien Tai Electrode Kunshan Co. Ltd., Unichemicals Industria e Comercio Ltda., VR-Leasing Sarita GmbH & Co. Immobilien KG, VS European Holdco BV, Valeron Strength Films B.V., Veneta Decalcogomme S.r.l., Versachem Chile S.A., Vesta, Vesta Global Limited, Vesta Guangzhou Catering Equipment Co. Ltd, Viltronics Soltec, Vitronics Soltec B.V., Wachs Canada Ltd., Wachs Subsea LLC, Weigh-Tronix Canada ULC, Weigh-Tronix UK Limited, Wilsonart International Holdings LLC, Wynn Oil South Africa Pty Ltd., Wynn's Automotive France, Wynn's Belgium BVBA, Wynn's Italia Srl, Wynn's Mekuba India Pvt Ltd, and Zip-Pak International B.V.. Read More 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. Manx Telecom plc provides a range of telecommunications services to consumers, businesses, and the public sector in the Isle of Man and internationally. It operates through five segments: Fixed Line, Broadband and Data; Mobile; Global Solutions; Data Centre; and Other. The Fixed Line, Broadband and Data segment offers fixed line, broadband, and connectivity services to approximately 37,000 homes and 4,000 businesses. It provides ADSL and VDSL, fixed line, and private circuit rental and connection services. The Mobile segment offers pre-paid and post-paid tariffs to various market segments; supports inbound roaming traffic; and sells mobile handsets, laptops, and accessories. It provides mobile calls, SMS, data, and mobile rental services. The Global Solutions segment offers wholesale SMS and voice, international traveler market, machine to machine, and signal mobile services, as well as mobile termination products, such as Chameleon. The Data Centre segment offers co-location, managed hosting, cloud, storage, disaster recovery, and business continuity services to corporate clients through three data centers. The Other segment provides phone book and business directory services; and operates MTTV, an online news channel, as well as manx.net portal. It also sells hardware equipment; and offers managed and interconnection services. The company was formerly known as Trafford Equityco Limited and changed its name to Manx Telecom plc in February 2014. Manx Telecom plc is headquartered in Braddan, the Isle of Man. The following companies are subsidiares of Molina Healthcare: Aetna & Humana - Medicare Advantage, Affinity Health Plan, AmericanWork Inc., Better Health Network, Camelot Care Centers Inc, Children's Behavioral Health Inc., Choices Group Inc., College Community Services, Dockside Services Inc, Family Preservation Services Inc., Family Preservation Services of Florida Inc., Family Preservation Services of North Carolina Inc., Family Preservation Services of Washington D.C. Inc., Family Preservation Services of West Virginia Inc., Florida NetPASS LLC, Hclb Inc., Magellan Complete Care, Maple Star Nevada Inc., Maple Star Oregon Inc., Mercy CarePlus, Molina Clinical Services LLC, Molina Healthcare Data Center Inc., Molina Healthcare of Arizona Inc., Molina Healthcare of California, Molina Healthcare of Florida Inc., Molina Healthcare of Georgia Inc., Molina Healthcare of Illinois Inc., Molina Healthcare of Iowa Inc., Molina Healthcare of Louisiana Inc., Molina Healthcare of Maryland Inc., Molina Healthcare of Michigan Inc., Molina Healthcare of Mississippi Inc., Molina Healthcare of Nevada Inc., Molina Healthcare of New Mexico Inc., Molina Healthcare of New York Inc., Molina Healthcare of North Carolina Inc., Molina Healthcare of Ohio Inc., Molina Healthcare of Oklahoma Inc., Molina Healthcare of Pennsylvania Inc., Molina Healthcare of Puerto Rico Inc., Molina Healthcare of South Carolina LLC, Molina Healthcare of Texas Inc., Molina Healthcare of Texas Insurance Company, Molina Healthcare of Utah Inc., Molina Healthcare of Virginia Inc., Molina Healthcare of Washington Inc., Molina Healthcare of Wisconsin Inc., Molina Holdings Corporation, Molina Hospital Management LLC, Molina Information Systems LLC dba Molina Medicaid Solutions, Molina Medical Management Inc., Molina Pathways LLC, Molina Pathways of Texas Inc., Molina Youth Academy, NextLevel Health Illinois, Pathways Community Corrections Inc., Pathways Community Services LLC, Pathways Community Support of Texas Inc., Pathways Health and Community Support LLC, Pathways Human Services LLC., Pathways of Arizona Inc., Pathways of Delaware Inc., Pathways of Idaho LLC, Pathways of Maine Inc., Pathways of Massachusetts LLC, Pathways of Oklahoma Inc., Pathways of Washington Inc., Providence Community Services, Providence Human Services, Raystown Developmental Services Inc., The Game of Work LLC, The RedCo Group Inc., Total Care Medicaid plan, Transitional Family Services Inc., Unisys -Health Information Management, and YourCare Health Plan. Read More United Parcel Service, Inc. provides letter and package delivery, transportation, logistics, and related services. It operates through two segments, U.S. Domestic Package and International Package. The U.S. Domestic Package segment offers time-definite delivery of letters, documents, small packages, and palletized freight through air and ground services in the United States. The International Package segment provides guaranteed day and time-definite international shipping services in Europe, the Asia Pacific, Canada and Latin America, the Indian sub-continent, the Middle East, and Africa. This segment offers guaranteed time-definite express options. The company also provides international air and ocean freight forwarding, customs brokerage, distribution and post-sales, and mail and consulting services in approximately 200 countries and territories. In addition, it offers truckload brokerage services; supply chain solutions to the healthcare and life sciences industry; shipping, visibility, and billing technologies; and financial and insurance services. The company operates a fleet of approximately 121,000 package cars, vans, tractors, and motorcycles; and owns 59,000 containers that are used to transport cargo in its aircraft. United Parcel Service, Inc. was founded in 1907 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. PulteGroup, Inc., through its subsidiaries, primarily engages in the homebuilding business in the United States. It acquires and develops land primarily for residential purposes; and constructs housing on such land. The company also offers various home designs, including single-family detached, townhomes, condominiums, and duplexes under the Centex, Pulte Homes, Del Webb, DiVosta Homes, American West, and John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods brand names. As of December 31, 2021, it controlled 228,296 lots, of which 109,078 were owned and 119,218 were under land option agreements. In addition, the company arranges financing through the origination of mortgage loans primarily for homebuyers; sells the servicing rights for the originated loans; and provides title insurance policies, and examination and closing services to homebuyers. PulteGroup, Inc. was formerly known as Pulte Homes, Inc. and changed its name to PulteGroup, Inc. in March 2010. The company was founded in 1950 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. GSK plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the creation, discovery, development, manufacture, and marketing of pharmaceutical products, vaccines, over-the-counter medicines, and health-related consumer products in the United Kingdom, the United States, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Pharmaceuticals, Pharmaceuticals R&D, Vaccines, and Consumer Healthcare. The company offers pharmaceutical products comprising medicines in the therapeutic areas, such as respiratory, HIV, immuno-inflammation, oncology, anti-viral, central nervous system, cardiovascular and urogenital, metabolic, anti-bacterial, and dermatology. It also provides consumer healthcare products in wellness, oral health, nutrition, and skin health categories. The company offers its consumer healthcare products in the form of nasal sprays, tablets, syrups, lozenges, gum and trans-dermal patches, caplets, infant syrup drops, liquid filled suspension, wipes, gels, effervescents, toothpastes, toothbrushes, mouthwashes, denture adhesives and cleansers, topical creams and non-medicated patches, lip balm, gummies, and soft chews. It has collaboration agreements with 23andMe; Lyell Immunopharma, Inc.; Novartis; Sanofi SA; Surface Oncology; Progentec Diagnostics, Inc.; Alector, Inc.; and CureVac AG., as well as strategic partnership with IDEAYA Biosciences, Inc. and Vir Biotechnology, Inc. The company was formerly known as GlaxoSmithKline plc and changed its name to GSK plc in May 2022. GSK plc was founded in 1715 and is headquartered in Brentford, the United Kingdom. The following companies are subsidiares of Thermo Fisher Scientific: 236 Perinton Parkway LLC, 27 Forge Parkway LLC, ABR--Affinity BioReagents, ACI Holdings Inc., ARG Services LLC, ASPEX Corporation, Abgene Inc., Abgene Limited, Acoustic Cytometry Systems Inc., AcroMetrix LLC, Acros Organics B.V.B.A., Advanced Biotechnologies Limited, Advanced Scientifics (ASI), Advanced Scientifics Inc., Advanced Scientifics International Inc., Affymetrix Biotech Participacoes Ltda., Affymetrix Biotech Shanghai Ltd, Affymetrix Inc, Affymetrix Japan K.K., Affymetrix Pte Ltd, Affymetrix UK Ltd, Afora S.A.U., Ahura Scientific, Alchematrix Inc., Alchematrix LLC, Alfa Aesar, Alfa Aesar (China) Chemical Co. Ltd., Alfa Aesar (Hong Kong) Limited, Allergon AB, Alphine Mountain Limited, Ambion Inc., Apogent Denmark ApS, Apogent Finance Company, Apogent Holding Company, Apogent Technologies Inc., Apogent Transition Corp., Apogent U.K. Limited, App-Tek International Pty Ltd, Applied Biosystems B.V., Applied Biosystems Finance B.V., Applied Biosystems International Inc., Applied Biosystems LLC, Applied Biosystems Taiwan LLC, Applied Biosystems Trading (Shanghai) Company Ltd., Applied Biosystems de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Applied Scientific Corporation, Avances Cientificos de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Avocado Research Chemicals Limited, B.R.A.H.M.S. Biotech GmbH, B.R.A.H.M.S. GmbH, B.R.A.H.M.S. UK Ltd, BAC BV, BAC IP BV, Barnstead Thermolyne LLC, Beijing Phadia Diagnostics Co Ltd, Bender MedSystems GmbH, BioTrove Corporation, BioTrove International Inc., Bioanalysis Labsystems S.A., Biochemical Sciences LLC, Biolab, BmT GmbH Laborprodukte, Bonsai Tecnologies - Sistemas para Biotecnologia e Industria Unipessoal Lda, Brammer Bio, Bumi-Sans Sendirian Berhad, CAC Limited, CB Diagnostics AB, CB Diagnostics Holding AB, CEPH International Corporation, CHK Holdings Inc., CRS Robotics, CTPS LLC, Capitol Scientific Products Inc., Capitol Vial Inc., Cellomics Inc., CellzDirect Inc., Cenduit GmbH, Cenduit LLC, Cezanne S.A.S., Chase Scientific Glass Inc., Chromacol Limited, Clintrak, Clintrak Clinical Labeling Services LLC, Clintrak Pharmaceutical Services LLC, Cohesive Technologies (UK) Limited, Cohesive Technologies Inc., Columbia Diagnostics Inc., Compendia Bioscience Inc., Comtest Limited, Consolidated Technologies Inc., Consultores Fisher Scientific Chile Ltd, Core Informatics, Core Informatics LLC, Core Informatics UK Ltd., D-finitive Technologies Inc., DCG Systems B.V., DCG Systems C.V., DCG Systems G.K., DCG Systems GmbH, DCG Systems Korea Ltd., DCG Systems LLC, DPI Newco LLC, DSM Pharmaceutical Products Inc., Dharmacon, Diagnostix Ltd., Dionex (China) Analytical Ltd, Dionex (Switzerland) AG, Dionex (UK) Limited, Dionex Austria GmbH, Dionex Benelux B.V., Dionex Brasil Instrumentos Cientificos Ltda, Dionex Canada Ltd., Dionex China Limited, Dionex Corporation, Dionex Denmark A/S, Dionex Holding GmbH, Dionex I LLC, Dionex Pty Ltd., Dionex S.A., Dionex S.p.A., Dionex Singapore Pte Ltd., Dionex Softron GmbH, Dionex Sweden AB, Distribution Solutions International Inc., Doe & Ingalls Investors Inc., Doe & Ingalls Limited, Doe & Ingalls Management LLC, Doe & Ingalls Properties II LLC, Doe & Ingalls Properties LLC, Doe & Ingalls of California Operating LLC, Doe & Ingalls of Florida Operating LLC, Doe & Ingalls of Maryland Operating LLC, Doe & Ingalls of Massachusetts Operating LLC, Doe & Ingalls of North Carolina Operating LLC, Doublecape Holding Limited, Doublecape Limited, Drakeside Real Estate Holding Company LLC, Duke Scientific Corporation, Dynal Biotech Beijing Limited, EGS Gauging Ltd., EGS Gauging Technical Services Company, EP Scientific Products LLC, Ecochem N.V., EnviroEquip Pty Ltd, Epsom Glass Industries Limited, Equibio Limited, Erie Electroverre S.A., Erie Finance Limited, Erie LP Holding LLC, Erie Scientific Company of Puerto Rico, Erie Scientific Hungary Kft, Erie Scientific LLC, Erie U.K. Limited, Erie UK 1 Limited, Erie UK 2 Limited, Erie UK Holding Company, Erie UK Senior Holding Limited, European Laboratory Holdings Limited, Eutech Instruments Europe B.V., Eutech Instruments Pte Ltd., Eutech Instruments Sdn Bhd, Ever Ready Thermometer Co. Inc., FEI Asia Pacific Co. Ltd., FEI Australia Pty Ltd, FEI CPD B.V., FEI Company, FEI Company Japan Ltd., FEI Company of USA (S.E.A.) Pte Ltd., FEI Czech Republic s.r.o., FEI Deutschland GmbH, FEI EFA Inc., FEI EFA International Pte. Ltd., FEI Electron Optics B.V., FEI Electron Optics International B.V., FEI Europe B.V., FEI France SAS, FEI Global Holdings C.V., FEI Hong Kong Company Limited, FEI Houston Inc., FEI Italia Srl, FEI Korea Ltd., FEI Melbourne Pty Ltd., FEI Microscopy Solutions Ltd, FEI Munich GmbH, FEI Norway Holding AS, FEI SAS, FEI Saudi Arabia LLC, FEI Servicos de Nanotecnologia Ltda., FEI Technologies Inc., FEI Technology de Mexico S.A. de C.V., FEI Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., FEI Trondheim AS, FEI UK Ltd., FHP LLC, FRC Holding Inc. V, FS (Barbados) Capital Holdings Ltd., FS Casa Rocas Holdings LLC, FS Mexicana Holdings LLC, FSI Receivables Company LLC, FSII Sweden Holdings AB, FSII Sweden Holdings I AB, FSIR Holdings (UK) Limited, FSIR Holdings (US) Inc., FSUK Holdings Limited, FSWH Company LLC, FSWH II C.V., FSWH International Holdings LLC, Fermentas China Co. Ltd, Fermentas Inc., Fermentas International, Fermentas Sweden AB, Fermentas UK Limited, Fiberlite Centrifuge LLC, Finesse Scientific Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Finesse Solutions AG, Finesse Solutions Inc., Finnzymes Oy, Fisher Alder S. de R.L. de C.V., Fisher Asia Manufacturing Ventures Inc., Fisher Bermuda Holdings Limited, Fisher BioImage ApS, Fisher BioPharma Services (India) Private Limited, Fisher BioSciences Japan G.K., Fisher BioServices Inc., Fisher Bioblock Holding II SNC, Fisher CLP Holding Limited Partnership, Fisher Canada Holding ULC 1, Fisher Canada Holding ULC 2, Fisher Canada Holding ULC 3, Fisher Canada Limited Partnership, Fisher Chimica BVBA, Fisher Clinical Logistics LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Fisher Clinical Services (Bristol) LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Colombia) LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Korea) Co. Ltd, Fisher Clinical Services (Mexico) LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Peru) LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Fisher Clinical Services Colombia S.A.S., Fisher Clinical Services GmbH, Fisher Clinical Services Inc., Fisher Clinical Services Japan K.K., Fisher Clinical Services Latin America S.R.L., Fisher Clinical Services Limited Liability Company, Fisher Clinical Services Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Fisher Clinical Services Peru S.R.L, Fisher Clinical Services Pte Ltd., Fisher Clinical Services U.K. Limited, Fisher Emergo B.V., Fisher Germany Holdings GmbH, Fisher Hamilton China Inc., Fisher Hamilton Mexico LLC, Fisher Holdings ApS, Fisher Internet Minority Holdings L.L.C., Fisher Laboratory Products Manufacturing (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Fisher Luxembourg Danish Holdings SARL, Fisher Manufacturing (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Fisher Maybridge Holdings Limited, Fisher Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Fisher Scientific (Austria) GmbH, Fisher Scientific (Hong Kong) Limited, Fisher Scientific (M) Sdn Bhd, Fisher Scientific (SEA) Pte. Ltd., Fisher Scientific A/S, Fisher Scientific AG, Fisher Scientific Australia Pty Limited, Fisher Scientific Biotech Line ApS, Fisher Scientific Brazil Inc., Fisher Scientific Central America Inc., Fisher Scientific Chile Inc., Fisher Scientific Colombia Inc., Fisher Scientific Company, Fisher Scientific Company L.L.C., Fisher Scientific Costa Rica Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada, Fisher Scientific Europe Holdings B.V., Fisher Scientific GTF AB, Fisher Scientific Germany Beteiligungs GmbH, Fisher Scientific GmbH, Fisher Scientific Holding Company LLC, Fisher Scientific Holding HK Limited, Fisher Scientific Holding U.K. Limited, Fisher Scientific Holdings (M) Sdn Bhd, Fisher Scientific Holdings (S) Pte Ltd, Fisher Scientific International LLC, Fisher Scientific Investments (Cayman) Ltd., Fisher Scientific Ireland Investments Unlimited, Fisher Scientific Ireland Limited, Fisher Scientific Japan Ltd., Fisher Scientific Jersey Island Limited, Fisher Scientific Korea Ltd, Fisher Scientific Latin America Inc., Fisher Scientific Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Fisher Scientific Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Fisher Scientific Mexico Inc., Fisher Scientific Middle East and Africa Inc., Fisher Scientific Norway AS, Fisher Scientific Operating Company, Fisher Scientific Oxoid Holdings Ltd., Fisher Scientific Oy, Fisher Scientific Pte. Ltd., Fisher Scientific S.A.S., Fisher Scientific S.L., Fisher Scientific SPRL, Fisher Scientific The Hague I B.V., Fisher Scientific The Hague II B.V., Fisher Scientific The Hague III B.V., Fisher Scientific The Hague IV B.V., Fisher Scientific The Hague V B.V., Fisher Scientific U.K. Limited, Fisher Scientific UK Holding Company 2, Fisher Scientific UK Holding Company Limited, Fisher Scientific Unipessoal Lda., Fisher Scientific Venezuela Inc., Fisher Scientific Worldwide (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Fisher Scientific Worldwide Holdings I C.V., Fisher Scientific Worldwide Inc., Fisher Scientific de Mexico S.A., Fisher Scientific of the Netherlands B.V., Fisher Scientific spol. S.r.o, Fisher Servicios Clinicos (Chile) LLC, Fisher Servicios Clinicos Chile Ltda, Fisher WWD Holding L.L.C., Fisher Worldwide Distribution SPV, Fisher Worldwide Gene Distribution SPV, Flux Instruments, Fuji Partnership, G & M Procter Limited, G V Instruments Limited, GV Instruments Canada Ltd., GV Instruments Inc, Gatan Inc, General Scientific Company Sdn Bhd (M), Genomed molekularbiologische und diagnostische Produkte GmbH, Gerhard Menzel B.V. & Co. KG, Gold Cattle Standard Testing Labs Inc., Golden West Indemnity Company Limited, Goring Kerr Detection Limited, Greenville Service Company Inc., HENO GmbH i.L., Hangar 215 Inc., Helmet Securities Limited, Henogen, HighChem, HyClone International Trade (Tianjin) Co. Ltd, Hybaid Limited, I.Q. (BIO) Limited, IDnostics AG, ILS Laboratories Scandinavia AB, Inel Inc., Inel SAS, InnaPhase Inc., InnaPhase Limited, IntegenX, Intrinsic BioProbes Inc., Intrinsic Bioprobes Inc., Invitrogen (Shanghai) Investment Co. Ltd., Invitrogen Argentina SA, Invitrogen BioServices India Private Limited, Invitrogen Europe Limited, Invitrogen Finance Corp., Invitrogen Holdings LLC, Invitrogen Holdings Ltd., Invitrogen Hong Kong Limited, Invitrogen IP Holdings Inc., Invitrogen Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Ion Torrent Systems Inc., Ionalytics Corporation, JSC Thermo Fisher Scientific, Jouan LLC, Jouan Limited, Jouan SA, Kendro Containment & Services Limited, Kendro Laboratory Products Ltd, Kettlebrook Insurance Co. ltd., Keystone Scientific, KonTEM GmbH, Kyle Jordan Investments LLC, LIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, LTC Tech South Africa PTY Ltd., La-Pha-Pack GmbH, Lab Vision (UK) Limited, Lab Vision Corporation, Lab-Chrom-Pack LLC, Lab-Line Instruments Inc., Labomex MBP S. de R. L. De C.V., Laboratoire Service International - L.S.I, Laboratory Management Systems Inc., Laboratory Specialties Proprietary Ltd., LambTrack Limited, Laser Analytical Systems Inc., Liberty Lane Investment LLC, Liberty Lane Real Estate Holding Company LLC, Life Sciences International (Poland) SP z O.O, Life Sciences International Holdings BV, Life Sciences International LLC, Life Sciences International Limited, Life Technologies AS, Life Technologies Australia PTY Ltd., Life Technologies BPD AB, Life Technologies BPD UK Limited, Life Technologies Brasil Comercio e Industria de Produtos para Biotecnologia Ltda, Life Technologies Chile SpA, Life Technologies Clinical Services Lab Inc., Life Technologies Co. Ltd., Life Technologies Czech Republic s.r.o., Life Technologies DaAn Diagnostic (Guangzhou) Co. Ltd., Life Technologies Europe B.V., Life Technologies Finance Ltd., Life Technologies Finland Oy, Life Technologies GmbH, Life Technologies Holdings PTE Ltd., Life Technologies Inc., Life Technologies International B.V., Life Technologies Japan Ltd., Life Technologies Korea LLC, Life Technologies Limited, Life Technologies Magyarorszag Kft, Life Technologies New Zealand Ltd., Life Technologies Norway Investments US LLC, Life Technologies Polska Sp z.o.o., Life Technologies SA, Life Technologies SAS, Life Technologies s.r.o, Linkage Biosciences Inc., Linkage Biosciences S.a.r.l., Loftus Furnace Company, Lomb Scientific, Lomb Scientific (Aust) Pty Limited, MTI-GlobalStem, Marketbase International Limited, Matrix MicroScience Inc., Matrix MicroScience Ltd., Matrix Technologies Corporation Limited, Matrix Technologies LLC, Maybridge Chemical Company Limited, Maybridge Chemical Holdings Limited, Maybridge Limited, Medical Analysis Systems Inc., Medical Analysis Systems International Inc., Medical Diagnostics Systems Inc., Metavac LLC, Microgenics Corporation, Microgenics Diagnostics Pty Limited, Microgenics GmbH, Microm International GmbH, Microm Laborgerate S.L.U, Molecular BioProducts Inc., Molecular Probes Inc., Molecular Transfer Inc., NAPCO Inc., NERL Diagnostics LLC, NOVODIRECT GmbH Labor- und Industrie- Megerate, Nalge (Europe) Limited, Nalge Nunc International (Monterrey) LLC, Nalge Nunc International Corporation, Nanjing WeiKangLe Trading Industrial Co Ltd, NanoDrop Technologies LLC, National Scientific Company, Navaho Acquisition Corp., Neomarkers Inc., New FS Holdings Inc., NewcoGen PE LLC, Nihon Dynal K.K., Niton Asia Limited, NovaWave Technologies Inc., Nunc A/S, ONIX Systems Inc., OXOID CZ s.r.o., Odyssey Holdings Corporation, Odyssey Luxembourg Holdings S.a r.l., Odyssey Luxembourg IP Holdings 1 S.a r.l., Odyssey Luxembourg IP Holdings 2 S.a r.l., Odyssey Venture Corporation, Omega Data Systems, One Lambda Inc, Onix Holdings Limited, Orme Scientific Limited, Owl Separation Systems LLC, Oxoid (ELY) Limited, Oxoid 2000 Limited, Oxoid AS, Oxoid Australia Pty. Limited, Oxoid Company, Oxoid Deutschland GmbH, Oxoid Holding SAS, Oxoid Holdings Limited, Oxoid Inc., Oxoid International Limited, Oxoid Investments GmbH, Oxoid Limited, Oxoid N.V., Oxoid New Zealand Limited, Oxoid Pension Trustees Limited, Oxoid Senior Holdings Limited, Oxoid UKH LLC, PAX - DSI Acquisition LLC, PE AG, Pacific Rim Far East Industries LLC, Pacific Rim Investment LLC, Panomics L.L.C., Panomics S.R.L., Patheon, Patheon API Inc., Patheon API Manufacturing Inc., Patheon API Services Inc., Patheon Austria GmbH & Co KG, Patheon B.V., Patheon Banner U.S. Holdings Inc., Patheon Biologics (NJ) LLC, Patheon Biologics Australia Pty Ltd, Patheon Biologics B.V., Patheon Biologics LLC, Patheon Calculus Merger LLC, Patheon Cooperatief U.A., Patheon Development Services Inc., Patheon Finance LLC, Patheon France SAS, Patheon Holdings B.V., Patheon Holdings I B.V., Patheon Holdings II B.V., Patheon Holdings SAS, Patheon I B.V., Patheon I Holding GmbH, Patheon Inc., Patheon International AG, Patheon Italia S.p.A., Patheon KK, Patheon Life Science Products International GmbH, Patheon Manufacturing Services LLC, Patheon Pharmaceuticals Inc., Patheon Pharmaceuticals Services Inc., Patheon Puerto Rico Acquisitions Corporation, Patheon Puerto Rico Inc., Patheon Regensburg GmbH, Patheon Softgels B.V., Patheon Softgels Inc., Patheon U.S. Holdings Inc., Patheon U.S. Holdings LLC, Patheon UK Limited, Patheon UK Pension Trustees Limited, Pelican Acquisition Corporation, Perbio Science (Canada) Company, Perbio Science AB, Perbio Science BVBA, Perbio Science France SAS, Perbio Science Inc., Perbio Science International Netherlands B.V., Perbio Science Invest AB, Perbio Science Nederland B.V., Perbio Science Projekt AB, Perbio Science Sweden Holdings AB, Perbio Science Switzerland SA, Perbio Science UK Limited, Phadia AB, Phadia Diagnosticos Ltda, Phadia GmbH, Phadia Holding AB, Phadia International Holdings C.V., Phadia Korea Co. Ltd, Phadia Luxembourg Holdings S.a.r.l., Phadia Malta Holdings Limited, Phadia Oy, Phadia Real Property AB, Phadia Sweden AB, Phadia Taiwan Inc., Phadia US Inc., Phadia s.r.o., Pharmacaps Mexicana SA de CV, Phenom-World B.V., Phenom-World Holding B.V, Phenom-World Innovations B.V., Phinotex, Pierce Biotechnology Inc., Pierce Milwaukee Holding Corp., Pierce Milwaukee Inc., Polychromix, Power Sweden Holdings I AB, Power Sweden Holdings II AB, Power Sweden Holdings III Aktiebolag, Princeton Gamma-Tech Instruments LLC, Princeton Security Technologies, Prionics AG, Prionics Asia Ltd., Prionics Deutschland GmbH, Prionics France SAS, Prionics Italia S.r.l., Prionics Lelystad B.V., Prionics USA Inc., Priority Air Express LLC, Priority Air Express Pte. Ltd., Priority Air Express UK Limited, Priority Air Holdings Corp, Priority Solutions International, Promedica Pty Limited, Proxeon, Proxeon Biosystems ApS, Qiagen, REP GBP I-B Blocker Inc., Raymond A Lamb Limited, Remel Europe Limited, Remel Inc., Richard-Allan Scientific Company, Robbins Scientific LLC, Robocon Labor- und Industrieroboter Gesellschaft m.b.H, Rupprecht and Patashnick, Rupprecht and Patashnick (R&P), Russell pH Limited, S.C.I. du 10 rue Dugay Trouin, SCI Inno 92, STC Bio Manufacturing Inc., Samco Scientific (Monterrey) LLC, Samco Scientific LLC, Saroph Sweden AB, Schantz Road LLC, Seradyn Inc., Shanghai Life Technologies Biotechnology Co. Limited, Shanghai Thermo Fisher (C-I) Trading Co. Ltd, Shanghai Thermo Fisher (S) Trading Co. Ltd, Southern Trials (Pty) Ltd., Specialty (SMI) Inc., Spectra-Physics AB, Spectra-Physics Holdings Limited, Spectra-Physics Holdings USA LLC, Spectronex, Staten Island Cogeneration Corporation, Sterilin Limited, Stokes Bio Ltd., Sweden DIA (Sweden) AB, SwissAnalytic Group GmbH, Systems Manufacturing Corporation, TFLP LLC, TFS Breda B.V., TFS LLC, TFS Singapore HK Limited, TFSL Financing GP LLC, TFSL Senior GP Holdings 2 LLC, TK Partnership, TKA Wasseraufbereitungssysteme, TMOI Inc., TPI Real Estate Holdings LLC, TSP Holdings I LLC, TWX LLC, Technology Design Solutions Pty Ltd, Thermedics Detection de Argentina S.R.L, Thermo Allen Coding Limited, Thermo Asset Management Services Inc., Thermo BioAnalysis LLC, Thermo BioAnalysis Limited, Thermo BioSciences Holdings LLC, Thermo CIDTEC, Thermo CRS Holdings Ltd., Thermo CRS Ltd., Thermo Cambridge Limited, Thermo Cayman Holdings Ltd., Thermo Corporation, Thermo DMA Inc., Thermo Detection de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Thermo Dutch Holdings Limited Partnership, Thermo EGS Gauging LLC, Thermo Eberline Holdings I LLC, Thermo Eberline Holdings II LLC, Thermo Eberline LLC, Thermo Electron (Calgary) Limited, Thermo Electron (Chile) S.p.A., Thermo Electron (Karlsruhe) GmbH, Thermo Electron (Management Services) Limited, Thermo Electron (Proprietary) Limited, Thermo Electron A/S, Thermo Electron Australia Pty Limited, Thermo Electron Export Inc., Thermo Electron Holdings SAS, Thermo Electron Industries, Thermo Electron LED GmbH, Thermo Electron LED S.A.S., Thermo Electron Limited, Thermo Electron Manufacturing Limited, Thermo Electron Metallurgical Services Inc., Thermo Electron North America LLC, Thermo Electron Pension Trust GmbH, Thermo Electron Puerto Rico Inc., Thermo Electron SAS, Thermo Electron Scientific Instruments LLC, Thermo Electron Sweden AB, Thermo Electron Sweden Forvaltning AB, Thermo Electron Weighing & Inspection Limited, Thermo Elemental Limited, Thermo Environmental Instruments LLC, Thermo Fast U.K. Limited, Thermo Finland Holdings LLC, Thermo Finland Holdings MT1 B.V., Thermo Finland Holdings MT2 B.V., Thermo Finnigan LLC, Thermo Finnigan Limited, Thermo Fisher (CN) Luxembourg Holding S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher (CN) Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher (CN) Malta Holdings Limited, Thermo Fisher (CN-I) Luxembourg LLC, Thermo Fisher (CN-II) Luxembourg LLC, Thermo Fisher (Cayman) Holdings I Ltd., Thermo Fisher (Cayman) Holdings II Ltd., Thermo Fisher (Finland Holdings 2) LLC, Thermo Fisher (Finland Holdings) Limited Partnership, Thermo Fisher (Gibraltar) II Limited, Thermo Fisher (Gibraltar) Limited, Thermo Fisher (Heysham) Limited, Thermo Fisher (Kandel) GmbH, Thermo Fisher CHK Holding LLC, Thermo Fisher China Business Trust, Thermo Fisher China Business Trust II, Thermo Fisher Costa Rica Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada, Thermo Fisher Cyprus Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Detection Mexico LLC, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics (Ireland) Limited, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics AB, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics AG, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics AS, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics Aps, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics Austria GmbH, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics B.V., Thermo Fisher Diagnostics GmbH, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics K.K., Thermo Fisher Diagnostics Limited, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics NV, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics S.L.U., Thermo Fisher Diagnostics S.p.A. , Thermo Fisher Diagnostics SAS, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics Sociedade Unipessoal Lda, Thermo Fisher Eurobonds Ltd., Thermo Fisher Financial Services Inc., Thermo Fisher GP LLC, Thermo Fisher German Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Germany B.V., Thermo Fisher India Divestco Private Limited, Thermo Fisher India Holding B.V., Thermo Fisher Insurance Holdings Inc., Thermo Fisher Insurance Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Investments (Cayman) Ltd., Thermo Fisher Israel Ltd., Thermo Fisher Production et Services SAS, Thermo Fisher Project Cyprus LLC, Thermo Fisher Re Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Asheville) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Australia) C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Barbados) Holdings Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Breda) Holding BV, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Bremen) GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific (CN) Limited Partnership, Thermo Fisher Scientific (China) Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (China) Holding Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific (China-HK) Holding Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific (DE) Holding S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Ecublens) SARL, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Finance I) B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Finance I) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Finance II) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Finance III) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Finance III) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Fuji) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Guangzhou) Co. Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Holding II) B.V. & Co. KG, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Hong Kong) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific (IVGN) B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific (IVGN) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Johannesburg) (Proprietary) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Mexico City) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Milwaukee) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Mississauga) Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Monterrey) S. De R.L. De C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific (NK) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN) Austria Holding GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN) UK LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN) UK Limited Partnership, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN-I) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN-II) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN1) UK Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Panama) B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Panama) Dutch LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Praha) s.r.o., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Real Estate 1) GmbH & Co. KG, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Real Estate 1) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Schweiz) AG, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Shanghai) Instruments Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Shanghai) Management Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Suzhou) Instruments Co. Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific AL-1 LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific AU C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific AU II Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific AU LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific AU Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Africa Proprietary Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Aquasensors LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Australia Pty Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific B.V.B.A., Thermo Fisher Scientific BHK (I) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific BHK (II) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Baltics UAB, Thermo Fisher Scientific Beteiligungsverwaltungs GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific Biosciences Corp., Thermo Fisher Scientific Brahms LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Brasil Instrumentos de Processo Ltda., Thermo Fisher Scientific Brasil Servicos de Logistica Ltda, Thermo Fisher Scientific C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cayman Investments LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Chemicals Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific China (C-I) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific China (S) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific China Holdings I B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific China Holdings II B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific China Holdings III B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific China Holdings IV B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Chromatography Holdings Aps, Thermo Fisher Scientific Chromatography Holdings S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus I C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus I Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus II C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus II Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus III C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus III Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus IV C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus V C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Denmark Senior Holdings ApS, Thermo Fisher Scientific Erie 1 Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Erie Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Erie Financing S.a r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific Europe GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific FLC B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific FLC Finance C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific FLC II B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific FLC LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific FSIR Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific FSIR Financing S.a.r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific FSUKHCO Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Falcon Senior Holdings Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Finance Company BV, Thermo Fisher Scientific GENEART GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific Germany BV & Co. KG, Thermo Fisher Scientific GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific HR Services Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Holdings (Cayman) I, Thermo Fisher Scientific Holdings (Cayman) II , Thermo Fisher Scientific Holdings Europe Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific IT Services GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific India Holding LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific India Pvt Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments (Malta) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments (Sweden) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments (Sweden) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments Malta (Sweden Financing) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Invitrogen Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Japan Holdings I B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Japan Holdings II B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Japan Holdings III B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific K.K., Thermo Fisher Scientific Korea Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific LSI Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life CV GP Holdings II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life CV GP Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Enterprises C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Enterprises GP LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Financing (Cayman), Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Financing C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Financing Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Holdings I C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Holdings II C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Holdings III C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Holdings Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life International GP Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life International Holdings I C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life International Holdings II C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments GP LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments I S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments II S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments III S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments IV S.a.r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments Malta Holding I LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments Malta Holding II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments Malta I Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments Malta II Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments US Financing I LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments US Financing II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life NL Holdings GP LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Netherlands Holding C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior GP Holdings II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior GP Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior Holdings C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior Holdings II C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior Holdings Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Switzerland Holdings GP LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Tech Korea Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Enterprise Holding Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investment I LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investment II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investment UK I Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investment UK II Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investments Holding LP, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Israel Investment I Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Israel Investment II Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Luxembourg Holding LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Enterprise Holdings S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg German Holdings S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Life Technologies UK Holding S.a r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Sweden Holdings I S.a r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Sweden Holdings II S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Venture Holdings I S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Venture Holdings II S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Thermo Fisher Scientific Malta Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Messtechnik GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific Mexico City S. de R.L. de C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Middle East Holdings Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Milano Srl, Thermo Fisher Scientific NHK Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific New Zealand Holdings, Thermo Fisher Scientific New Zealand Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Norway Holdings AS, Thermo Fisher Scientific Norway US Investments LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Odyssey Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Odyssey Holdings Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Operating Company LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Oy, Thermo Fisher Scientific PN2 C.V, Thermo Fisher Scientific PN2 LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific PRB LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific PRB Malta Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific PRB S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Panama I Cayman Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Peru S.R.L., Thermo Fisher Scientific Pte. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific Re Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific SL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Senior Financing LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Senior Holdings Australia LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific South Africa Proprietary Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific SpA, Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra Malta Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra-Physics Holdings Luxembourg I S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra-Physics Holdings Luxembourg II S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra-Physics Investments Malta Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Switzerland Holdings C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific TR Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Taiwan Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific Vermogensverwaltungs GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific West Palm Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Wissenschaftliche Gerate GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific Worldwide Investments (Cayman), Thermo Fisher Scientific eCommerce Solutions LLC , Thermo Fisher Senior Canada Holdings LLC, Thermo Foundation Inc., Thermo Gamma-Metrics Holdings Pty Ltd., Thermo Gamma-Metrics LLC, Thermo Gamma-Metrics Pty Ltd, Thermo Holding European Operations LLC, Thermo Hypersil Ltd, Thermo Hypersil-Keystone LLC, Thermo Informatics Asia Pacific Pty Ltd., Thermo Instrument Controls de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Thermo Kevex X-Ray LLC, Thermo Keytek LLC, Thermo LabSystems Inc., Thermo LabSystems S.A., Thermo Life Science International Trading (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., Thermo Life Sciences AB, Thermo Luxembourg Holding S.a.r.l., Thermo Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Thermo MF Physics LLC, Thermo Measurement Ltd, Thermo Measuretech Canada Inc., Thermo Neslab LLC, Thermo Nicolet Limited, Thermo Onix Limited, Thermo Optek (Australia) Pty Ltd., Thermo Optek Limited, Thermo Optek S.A., Thermo Orion Inc., Thermo Portable Holdings LLC, Thermo Power Corporation, Thermo Process Instruments GP LLC, Thermo Process Instruments L.P., Thermo Projects Limited, Thermo Quest S.A., Thermo Radiometrie Limited, Thermo Ramsey Italia S.r.l., Thermo Ramsey LLC, Thermo Ramsey S.A., Thermo Re Ltd., Thermo Scientific Microbiology Pte Ltd., Thermo Scientific Microbiology Sdn Bhd, Thermo Scientific Portable Analytical Instruments Inc., Thermo Scientific Services Inc., Thermo Securities Corporation, Thermo Sentron Canada Inc., Thermo Sentron Limited, Thermo Shandon Inc., Thermo Shandon Limited, Thermo Suomi Holding B.V., Thermo TLH (UK) Limited, Thermo TLH L.P., Thermo Trace Pty Ltd., Thermo-Fisher Biochemical Product (Beijing) Co. Ltd., ThermoLase LLC, ThermoSpectra Limited, Trek Diagnostic Systems LLC, Trek Diagnostic Systems Ltd., Trek Holding Company II Ltd., Trek Holding Company Ltd., Trex Medical Corporation, USB Corporation, Union Lab Supplies Limited, United Diagnostics Inc., VG Systems Limited, Westover Scientific Inc., ZAO PE Biosystems, eBioscience GmbH, eBioscience Ltd, eBioscience SAS, and picoSpin LLC. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Ingersoll Rand: 13125882 Canada Inc., 211 E. Russell Road LLC, 4458664 Canada Inc., ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES ASIA PTE. LTD., ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES BORROWER S.C.A., ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED, ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES LLC, ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES MIDDLE EAST FZE, ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES SERVICES LIMITED, ASTRUM IT GmbH, Accudyne Industries Acquisition S.A r.l, Accudyne Industries Canada Inc., Accudyne Industries S.A r.l., Air Dimensions, Air Dimensions Inc., Albin Pump SAS, BOC Edwards Global Low pressure Air business, CISA S.p.A., Cameron-Centrifugal Compression, Comercial Ingersoll-Rand (Chile) Limitada, Comingersoll-Comercio E Industria De Equipamentos S.A., CompAir, CompAir (Hankook) Korea Co. Ltd., CompAir Acquisition (No. 2) Ltd., CompAir Acquisition Ltd., CompAir BroomWade Ltd., CompAir Finance Ltd., CompAir GmbH, CompAir Holdings Limited, CompAir International Trading (Shanghai) Co Ltd, CompAir Korea Ltd, CompAir South Africa (SA) (Pty) Ltd., Consolidated Distribution Holdings Ltd., DV Systems Inc., Dosatron International SAS, Emco Wheaton Gmbh, Emco Wheaton USA Inc, Enza Air Proprietary Limited, FlexEnergy Holdings LLC, Frigoblock Grosskopf Gmbh, GD Aria Holdings Limited, GD Aria Holdings Limited, GD Aria Investments Limited, GD First (UK) Ltd, GD German Holdings GmbH, GD German Holdings I Gmbh, GD German Holdings II GmbH, GD German Investments GmbH, GD Global Holdings II Inc., GD Global Holdings Inc., GD Global Holdings UK II Ltd., GD Global Ventures I B.V., GD Global Ventures II B.V., GD Global Ventures III B.V., GD Industrial Products Malaysia SDN. BHD., GD Investment KY, GD UK Finance Ltd., GPS Industries, Gardner Denver (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Gardner Denver Austria GmbH, Gardner Denver Bad Neustadt Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Belgium NV, Gardner Denver Brasil Industria E Comercio de Maquinas Ltda., Gardner Denver CZ + SK sro, Gardner Denver Canada Corp (Canada), Gardner Denver Cyprus Investments II Limited, Gardner Denver Cyprus Investments Limited, Gardner Denver Deutschland GmbH, Gardner Denver Engineered Products India Private Limited, Gardner Denver FZE, Gardner Denver Finance II LLC, Gardner Denver Finance Inc & Co KG, Gardner Denver France SAS, Gardner Denver Group Svcs Ltd, Gardner Denver Holdings Limited, Gardner Denver Hong Kong Investments Limited, Gardner Denver Hong Kong Ltd, Gardner Denver Iberica SL, Gardner Denver Inc., Gardner Denver Industries Ltd., Gardner Denver Industries Pty Ltd., Gardner Denver International Inc., Gardner Denver International Ltd., Gardner Denver Investments Inc., Gardner Denver Italy Holdings S.r.L., Gardner Denver Japan Ltd., Gardner Denver Kirchhain Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Korea Ltd., Gardner Denver Ltd., Gardner Denver Machinery (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Gardner Denver Nash Brasil Industria E Comercio De Bombas Ltda, Gardner Denver Nash LLC, Gardner Denver Nash Machinery Ltd., Gardner Denver Nederland BV, Gardner Denver Nederland Investments B.V., Gardner Denver Oy, Gardner Denver Polska Sp z.o.o., Gardner Denver Pte. Ltd., Gardner Denver S.r.l., Gardner Denver Schopfheim GmbH, Gardner Denver Schopfheim Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Schweiz AG, Gardner Denver Slovakia s.r.o., Gardner Denver Sweden AB, Gardner Denver Taiwan Ltd., Gardner Denver Thomas GmbH (f/k/a ILMVAC GmbH), Gardner Denver Thomas Inc., Gardner Denver Thomas Pneumatic Systems (Wuxi) Co. Ltd., Gardner Denver Thomas Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Garo Dott. Ing. Roberto Gabbioneta S.r.l., Ghh-Rand Schraubenkompressoren Gmbh, HASKEL EUROPE LTD., HASKEL HOLDINGS UK LIMITED, HASKEL INTERNATIONAL LLC, Hamworthy Belliss & Morcom, Haskel France SAS, Haskel Sistemas de Fluidos Espana S.R.L., Hibon Inc., Highspeed Newco LLC, Hingerose Limited, ILMVAC (UK) Ltd., ILS Innovative Labor Systeme, ILS Inovative Laborsysteme GmbH, INGERSOLL RAND ITS JAPAN LTD., INGERSOLL-RAND (CHANG ZHOU) TOOLS CO. LTD., INGERSOLL-RAND (CHINA) INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING CO. LTD., INGERSOLL-RAND CHINA LLC, INGERSOLL-RAND COMERCIO E SERVICOS DE MAQUINAS E EQUIPAMENTOS INDUSTRIAIS LTDA., INGERSOLL-RAND DE PUERTO RICO INC., INGERSOLL-RAND INDUSTRIAL COMPANY B.V., INGERSOLL-RAND INDUSTRIAL SP. Z O.O., INGERSOLL-RAND INDUSTRIAL U.S. INC., INGERSOLL-RAND PHILIPPINES INC., INGERSOLL-RAND SPAIN S.A., INGERSOLL-RAND U.S. HOLDCO INC., IR HPS Holdco. Inc., ITO Emniyet, Ingersoll Rand Cyprus Investments Ltd., Ingersoll Rand Finance LLC, Ingersoll Rand Global Investments LLC, Ingersoll Rand Global Ventures LLC, Ingersoll Rand Hong Kong Investments Limited, Ingersoll Rand Inc., Ingersoll Rand Investments (SG) Pte. Ltd., Ingersoll Rand Investments B.V., Ingersoll Rand Schweiz Investments Gmbh, Ingersoll Rand Technology R&D (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand (Australia) Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand (China) Investment Company Limited, Ingersoll-Rand (Guilin) Tools Company Limited, Ingersoll-Rand (Hong Kong) Holding Company Limited, Ingersoll-Rand (India) Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Ab, Ingersoll-Rand Air Solutions Hibon Sarl, Ingersoll-Rand Beteiligungs Und Grundstucksverwaltungs Gmbh, Ingersoll-Rand Colombia S.A.S., Ingersoll-Rand Company Limited (Uk), Ingersoll-Rand Company South Africa (Pty) Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Cz S.R.O., Ingersoll-Rand De Mexico S.A. De C.V., Ingersoll-Rand Equipements De Production S.A.S., Ingersoll-Rand Holdings Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Industrial Ireland Limited, Ingersoll-Rand International (India) Private Limited, Ingersoll-Rand International Holding Llc, Ingersoll-Rand Italia S.R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Italiana Manufacturing S.R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Korea Holding Llc, Ingersoll-Rand Korea Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Lux Investments II S.A R.I., Ingersoll-Rand Lux Investments S.A R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Luxembourg Industrial Company S.A R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Machinery (Shanghai) Company Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Malaysia Co. Sdn. Bhd., Ingersoll-Rand S.A. De C.V., Ingersoll-Rand Services And Trading Limited Liability Company, Ingersoll-Rand Services Company, Ingersoll-Rand Services Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Singapore Enterprises Pte. Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand South East Asia (Pte.) Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand Superay Holdings Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Technical And Services S.A.R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Technologies And Services Private Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Technology R&D (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand Tool Holdings Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Trading Gmbh, Ingersoll-Rand Vietnam Company Limited, Instrum Rand JSC, Interflex Datensysteme, Ir Canada Holdings Ulc, Ir Canada Sales & Service Ulc, Ir France Sas, Kryptonite corp, Lawrence Factor Inc., LeROI, LeRoi International Inc, MILTON ROY (HONG KONG) LIMITED, MILTON ROY (UK) LIMITED, MILTON ROY EUROPA B.V., MILTON ROY EUROPE SAS, MILTON ROY INDUSTRIAL (SHANGHAI) CO. LTD., MILTON ROY LLC, MILTON ROY US PURCHASER INC., MP Pumps Inc., Maximum AG Technologies Inc., Maximus Solutions, Mb Air Systems Limited, Nash Elmo, Officina Meccaniche Industriali Srl, Oina VV, Oina VV Aktiebolag, Plurifilter D.O.O., Pt Ingersoll-Rand Indonesia, Robuschi, Runtech Systems, Runtech Systems (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Runtech Systems Inc., Runtech Systems OY, SEEPEX, Seepex (M) SDN, Seepex Australia Pty Ltd, Seepex Beteiligungs-Gesellschaft mit Beschrankter Haftung, Seepex France S.a.r.l., Seepex GmbH, Seepex Inc., Seepex India Private Ltd., Seepex Italia SRL, Seepex Japan Co. Ltd., Seepex Nordic A/S, Seepex OOO, Seepex Pumps (Shanghia) Co. Ltd., Seepex UK Ltd., Shanghai CompAir Compressors Co Ltd, Shanghai Compressors & Blowers Ltd., Shanghai Ingersoll-Rand Compressor Limited, Shenzhen Bocom System Engineering Co., Superay, Syltone, TIWR Real Estate GmbH & Co. KG, Tamrotor Marine Comp AS Norway, Tecno Matic Europe s.r.o., Thomas Industries Inc., Trane Technologies, Tri-Continent Scientific Inc., Vacuum and Blower Systems division, Welch Vacuum Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Zaxe Technologies Inc., Zeks Compressed Air Solutions Llc, Zinsser Analytic, Zinsser Analytik GmbH, Zinsser NA Inc., and crayon interface. Read More Teleflex Incorporated designs, develops, manufactures, and supplies single-use medical devices for common diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in critical care and surgical applications worldwide. It provides vascular access products that comprise Arrow branded catheters, catheter navigation and tip positioning systems, and intraosseous access systems for the administration of intravenous therapies, the measurement of blood pressure, and the withdrawal of blood samples through a single puncture site. The company also offers interventional products, which consists of various coronary catheters, structural heart therapies, and peripheral intervention and cardiac assist products that are used by interventional cardiologists and radiologists, and vascular surgeons; and Arrow branded catheters, Guideline and Trapliner catheters, the Manta Vascular Closure, and Arrow Oncontrol devices. It provides anesthesia products, such as airway and pain management products to support hospital, emergency medicine, and military channels; and surgical products, including metal and polymer ligation clips, and fascial closure surgical systems that are used in laparoscopic surgical procedures, percutaneous surgical systems, and other surgical instruments. The company also offers interventional urology products comprising the UroLift System, an invasive technology for treating lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia; and respiratory products, including oxygen and aerosol therapies, spirometry, and ventilation management products for use in various care settings. It provides urology products, such as catheters, urine collectors, and catheterization accessories and products for operative endourology; and bladder management services. The company serves hospitals and healthcare providers, medical device manufacturers, and home care markets. The company was incorporated in 1943 and is headquartered in Wayne, Pennsylvania. Validus Holdings, Ltd. provides reinsurance coverage, insurance coverage, and insurance linked securities management services worldwide. It operates through three segments: Reinsurance, Insurance, and Asset Management. The Reinsurance segment underwrites property reinsurance products on a catastrophe excess of loss, per risk excess of loss and proportional basis; and aerospace and aviation, agriculture, composite, marine, technical lines, terrorism, trade credit, workers' compensation, and other specialty lines, as well as casualty and financial lines. The Insurance segment underwrites property, accident and health, agriculture, aviation, contingency, marine, and political lines insurance products; bankers blanket bond, commercial crime, computer crime, cyber- crime, professional indemnity, and directors' and officers' insurance products for various financial institutions and other companies; and commercial and institutional risks comprising general, professional, and product liability, as well as miscellaneous malpractice insurance products. This segment also underwrites marine and energy liability, and political risk insurance products, as well as insurance products for repair, maintenance, and upkeep of aircrafts and premises for small companies. The Asset Management segment manages capital for third parties through insurance-linked securities, and other property catastrophe and specialty reinsurance investments. Validus Holdings, Ltd. was founded in 2005 and is based in Pembroke, Bermuda. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. operates as an omni-channel specialty retailer of various products for home. It offers cooking, dining, and entertaining products, such as cookware, tools, electrics, cutlery, tabletop and bar, outdoor, furniture, and a library of cookbooks under the Williams Sonoma Home brand, as well as home furnishings and decorative accessories under the Williams Sonoma lifestyle brand; and furniture, bedding, lighting, rugs, table essentials, and decorative accessories under the Pottery Barn brand. The company also provides home decor products under the West Elm brand; kids accessories under the Pottery Barn Kids brand; and an organic bedding to multi-purpose furniture under the Pottery Barn Teen brand. In addition, it offers made-to-order lighting, hardware, furniture, and home decors inspired by history under the Rejuvenation brand; and women's and men's accessories, travel, entertaining and bar, home decor, and seasonal items under the Mark and Graham brand, as well as operates a 3-D imaging and augmented reality platform for the home furnishings and decor industry. The company markets its products through e-commerce websites, direct-mail catalogs, and retail stores. It operates 544 stores comprising 502 stores in 41states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico; 20 stores in Canada; 19 stores in Australia; 3 stores in the United Kingdom; and 139 franchised stores, as well as e-commerce websites in various countries in the Middle East, the Philippines, Mexico, South Korea, and India. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. was founded in 1956 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California. At last weeks Ultra-Broadband Forum, Developing Telecoms editor James Barton attended a roundtable with Ryan Ding, Executive Director and President of the Carrier Business Group of Huawei. Among the subjects discussed were Huaweis investment strategies with regard to emerging markets, as well as the technologies that had proven most effective in delivering internet access. What really surprised was the extent to which these two subjects informed each other the vendor highlighted that reducing payback time is a matter of identifying the correct areas to connect first. Which technologies does Huawei consider key for connecting emerging markets? When you look at Huaweis investment strategy in terms of access, we look at optical fibre, copper, and cable. This kind of integrated mindset is reflected in our products and strategy. When it comes to copper technologies, we are looking at all the different options as we evolve. Simply put, there are two directions were investigating from an investment point of view. The first is to have longer distance for 100Mbps broadband; the other is to have faster speed from G.fast longer reach or higher bandwidth. What are the main challenges in terms of driving internet access in these regions? In emerging markets, the biggest challenge is not about improving bandwidth but more about the kind of technologies that can be used to get access into homes. For example, India is a very large and populous country but only has around 15 million copper lines. In this scenario, achieving 55% home broadband access must involve leveraging all different access technologies so that home broadband infrastructure can be used in an efficient way. For this reason, weve been using a hybrid approach for home broadband deployment in India, encompassing optical fibre, copper and WTTx. In India, all three carriers are using massive MiMo for more capacity in the same spectrum with more antennas. Is this technology affordable for consumers in Africa where more capacity is needed, and is it ready yet? I believe for these kinds of new technologies, in emerging markets we will see a lot more planning than developed countries. When it comes to consumers, the focus is on smart Wi-Fi rather than cloud as we dont want to end up with a very high communications cost. We need to consider the cost of massive MiMo base stations its three times more expensive than traditional base stations. However the biggest cost of wireless networks is not about the base stations if we look at Brazil as an example, constructing a new tower requires around 150 square metres and US$200,000. If you produce a new technology for an operator that lets them avoid buying a new site and building a new tower thereby avoiding further rental fees which can be up to US$1000 per month they can save enough money to buy a new base station. Therefore, by introducing new technologies instead of having to acquire sites, operators can expand their network capacity by three to five times. While this may hold true for China, this strategy may not work as well in Nigeria, Ghana or Kenya as it could be too soon for them to adopt such technologies. Huawei helped Thai operator True to upgrade its network to become massive MiMo based, increasing their traffic 16%, which will likely result in a payback time as short as one month. How are we going to see payback time reduced in less developed markets? This is a very important question more than 70% of our revenue comes from emerging markets currently, and the biggest challenge for broadband in these regions is how to ensure low cost. People tend to believe that fibre optic deployment in emerging markets is cost effective, but according to Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore, the cost of deploying fibre to households in Kenya ranges from $2000-$2500 with a payback period of seven to eleven years. When we first started working with Safaricom, they had only deployed around 5000 FTTH lines. Our in-depth collaboration with them helped them to optimise their processes and tools for fibre deployment, and also helped them to identify higher value regions where fibre deployment would make more sense. As a result of these joint efforts, the payback period was reduced to less than three years. Their deployment plan for the next few years is to build out at least 200,000 to 300,000 new fibre lines. People tend to think that the first areas that should receive FTTH deployments are higher income residential areas, but through our analysis weve found that apartment blocks what we can call villages in urban areas where the population density is very high deliver higher return on investment and a shorter payback period for FTTH deployment. We have an initiative along these lines with Globe in the Philippines. In higher income areas, FTTH deployment involves a payback period of typically more than nine years. In lower income high density areas, payback time is much less at around three years. When we talk about deployment in Africa particularly of fixed networks it has to be driven by value rather than subjective perceptions. In addition to fibre and copper, you mentioned your strategy of WTTx deployment. Whats driving the deployment of this technology? From our point of view, WTTx and FTTx complement each other for home broadband access. Deployment of fibre or copper in emerging markets is too costly, whereas WTTX can offer a more cost efficient and faster alternative - within just one year of deploying WTTx, Globe had over 500,000 subscribers. The technology could also be very powerful in built-up cities Japanese operator Softbank acquired 1 million WTTx subscribers within a year of deploying the technology in Tokyo. Fibre penetration in Tokyo is very good, so it was somewhat puzzling why WTTx grew so fast in the market, but then we found that the main subscriber demographic was young people, who typically rent apartments and therefore can change addresses relatively frequently. In light of this, fixed line is an unappealing option WTTx makes switching location very easy. This makes it a very promising business moving forward particularly with regard to emerging markets, where the major adopters of new technology are younger generations. However, with emerging markets, its not just about young people fixed access infrastructure in these markets is often underdeveloped. There are potential use cases for areas where WTTX can bring value for different types of scenarios. In particular, with massive MiMo becoming available this year, spectrum efficiency has improved three- to fivefold, increasing the potential for WTTx deployments. American Tower is set to spend $1 billion acquiring tower assets from Vodafone India and Idea Cellular. The US tower firm emerged as the preferred candidate after negotiations with Brookfield Asset Management and IDFC Project Equity fell through due to disputes over the valuation of the towers. The details of the agreement are still being finalised. Vodafone, the countrys second largest operator, currently holds around 11,000 towers, while third-placed Idea has almost 9000. The two operators are on track to merge by mid-2018, which will create a new market leader in India with around 411 million connections, giving it a market share of 34%. Together with market leader Bharti Airtel, both firms also have holdings in Indus Tower, which operates around 123,000 towers. Airtels stake in Indus Tower is held via its 61.65% ownership of tower firm Bharti Infratel. A further 10.33% stake in the company is held by Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) and private equity firm KKR, after the firms jointly invested $954 million in Indus earlier this year. Vodafone, Idea and Providence Equity Partners hold 58% of Indus Towers between them, and Infratel is reportedly looking to obtain most or all of this from them for between $5.5 - $6.5 billion in a leveraged buyout that will largely be funded out of the reserves and cash flow of Indus Towers. Vodafone may retain a stake of around 10%. Recent reports have indicated that once Infratel has made its acquisition, KKR is looking to increase its stake in Indus to around 45%. Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL made by HTC and LG respectively are the follow-up to last year's Pixel smartphones. The handsets offer improved cameras, Android 8.0 Oreo and IP67 water and dust resistance. Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, the second-generation flagship smartphones 'Made by Google' are now available for pre-order in India. The smartphones were announced earlier this month and will be available exclusively on Flipkart. The e-commerce giant will start shipping the Pixel 2 on November 1 while the Pixel 2 XL will be available from November 15. In order to lure consumers to buy the premium smartphones from Google, Flipkart has announced discounts and bundled offers. With pre-order of the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, Flipkart is giving Sennheiser Bluetooth headset for just Rs 1. This will be useful considering that both Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL miss out on 3.5mm audio jack, rendering them incompatible with the existing set of headphones. Other offers include extra Rs 5,000 off on exchange of select phone models and guaranteed buyback value of 50 percent upon payment of a one-time fee of Rs 149. HDFC Bank Credit Card users will get Rs 8,000 cashback on purchase of Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL on EMI. Flipkart is also offering extra Rs 5,000 cashback to those purchasing Pixel 2 series using Axis Bank Buzz Credit Cards. The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are also available at no-cost EMI options starting from Rs 3,889 per month. Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are the follow-up to last year's Pixel and Pixel XL and are pitched as smartphones designed to offer a pure Android experience as conceived by the search giant. The Pixel 2 is manufactured by HTC while the Pixel 2 XL is being built by LG. Google recently snapped up a part of HTC's engineering division to bolster its hardware efforts. The Pixel 2, smaller of the two offerings, features a design similar to last year's Pixel. It features a 5-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and 16:9 aspect ratio. Google Pixel 2 XL, on the other hand, gets a larger 6-inch P-OLED display with a resolution of 2880 x 1440 pixels and an 18:9 aspect ratio. While the smartphone is not bezel-less in terms of design, it does sport thinner bezels in comparison with that of Pixel 2. While Pixel 2 XL gets a larger display, it has been marred by issues. Google Pixel 2 XL users have reported screen burn-in issue and black smearing effect on their smartphone display. Google has confirmed that it is actively investigating the issue and there is no word on fix or replacement just yet. Both the smartphones are powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 835 mobile chipset coupled with 4GB RAM and option for either 64GB or 128GB internal storage. Like last year, the talking point of the new Pixel smartphones is its image sensors fused with AI capabilities. The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL ditch the dual rear camera trend to pack a single 12MP sensor with f/1.8 aperture, dual-pixel autofocus, optical image stabilisation and dual-LED flash. The rear camera uses data from dual pixels to reproduce images with a blurred background as opposed to other smartphones using a dedicated telephoto lens. The front camera uses a 8MP sensor with f/2.4 aperture and uses machine learning to shoot selfies in portrait mode. Interestingly, Google has also added a dedicated Pixel Visual Core, a custom-SoC for image processing and plans to activate it with future updates. Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL differ primarily in terms of display size, design and battery capacity. The Pixel 2 is backed by a 2700mAh battery while Pixel 2 XL packs a larger 3520mAh battery. Both get a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor and run Android 8.0 Oreo with a promised software update for three years. Both Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are now IP67 water and dust resistant. Google Pixel 2 is priced at Rs 61,000 for the 64GB variant while the 128GB model is priced at Rs 70,000. Google Pixel 2 XL with 64GB storage is priced at Rs 73,000 while 128GB variant will retail for Rs 82,000. The smartphone is available in Kinda Blue, Just Black and Clearly Black colours while Pixel 2 XL is available in Just Black and Black and White colour. Xiaomi is teasing the launch of a new smartphone with better selfie camera and fast charging support. The teaser suggests it could be the Mi Note 3, which features a 16MP selfie camera and Quick Charge 3.0 support. Xiaomi will launch a new series of a selfie-centric smartphones in India on November 2. The wording 'A New Series Is Coming' used in the teaser is similar to the one used ahead of the launch of Mi A1, which brought Google's Android One back to the mainstream. The teaser also shows a lightning symbol indicating the upcoming device will support some form of fast charging. With the new series, Xiaomi is also clearly indicating that it is planning to take on the likes of Vivo, Oppo and Gionee, which offer better selfie cameras than the competition. In a separate tweet, Xiaomi India Managing Director, Manu Jain added that the company has multiple surprises planned for the launch of the 'Best selfie' smartphone. This is the first time Xiaomi is clearly indicating that it will launch a smartphone that offers a superior selfie camera. Multiple surprises planned for the launch of the BEST selfie smartphone. Hints on this table Any guess? #YourBestSelfie pic.twitter.com/HshUnpRe9N Manu Kumar Jain (@manukumarjain) October 26, 2017 The teaser suggests that Xiaomi will finally launch its Mi Note series in India, which not only offers a superior selfie camera and also supports fast charging. The Mi Note 3 was launched alongside Mi Mix 2 at an event in China last month. The smartphone features a 5.5-inch full HD display and is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 660 chipset. The Mi Note 3 comes standard with 6GB RAM and option for either 64GB or 128GB internal storage. The Mi Note 3 borrows the dual rear camera setup found on company's flagship Mi 6 smartphone. It features dual 12MP rear cameras with one wide-angle lens and another telephoto lens supporting 2x optical zoom. It also features a 16MP selfie camera with larger 2-micron pixel size and support for new beauty 4.0 mode. The software is fused with artificial intelligence for scene optimisation and adequate whitening. The features will make it competitive against selfie-centric smartphones from Oppo and Vivo. The Xiaomi Mi Note 3 doesn't feature a bezel-less design and features a front-mounted fingerprint sensor. The handset is backed by a 3500mAh battery and supports Qualcomm's Quick Charge 3.0 for fast charging. The Mi Note 3 starts at 2,499 Yuan (around Rs 25,000) and considering Xiaomi's track record, the smartphone will be competitively priced here. Xiaomi has had a great year in India since the launch of Redmi Note 4 in January this year. The company claims to have sold over 4 million smartphones during this Diwali and has already confirmed selling over 5 million Redmi Note 4 since launch. With strong sales of its mid-range smartphones, Xiaomi is moving towards premium mid-range segment with the launch of Mi Mix 2 this month and Mi Note 3 will be just another addition to tap into this space With The Frame, Samsung is targeting a very niche segment of the audience. But to that audience, this may be the only television worth buying. It's an impressive marriage of aesthetics with technology, and would suit those who care more about aesthetics than raw specifications. It's not as good as the QLED or OLED TVs out there in terms of picture quality, though. Samsung The Frame 4K UHD detailed review You know how televisions always interfere with the aesthetics of your room? Well, Samsung does, and the company is doing something about it. Unveiled at CES 2017, the Samsung Frame was a concept television at the time. However, the company is actually selling it now. And though it caters to a very niche audience, its perhaps the only TV that audience will like. It aims to make the TV a part of your furniture, and it succeeds in doing that, in many ways. The Frame isnt the perfect TV, but its probably the perfect marriage of aesthetics with technological prowess. Build and Design As the name suggests, the Samsung Frame is meant to look like a picture frame. It has a thick, matte border running along the sides. Samsung allows the user to customise the frame, selling white, beige wood and walnut frames separately. You will have to buy the frame separately, or settle for the default black, matte finish frame. Personally, wed pick the walnut frame though the default frame does justice to the concept as well. Its matte finish keeps light from reflecting off it, allowing the TV to be camouflaged when its in Art Mode. The frames can simply be slid onto the default one, making it easy to change them when needed. The default frame is a thick strip with matte finish Samsung is selling walnut, beige wood and white frames for The Frame The no-gap wall mount is included in-box and is an essential for these TV The company bundles the no-gap wall mount with the TV, which allows you to place it on the wall just like a picture frame. The no-gap wall mount does literally what the name suggests, eliminating almost all the space between the television and the wall behind it. Since Samsung uses the OneConnect box for ports, this seems like the ideal way to setup any television in any home. For those who have a lot of paintings and artwork in their home, Samsung wants to to camouflage this TV amongst them, making it a part of your home. Alternatively, if you want to set it up on a table, Samsung gives you the basic stand in the box. The company also sells a Studio Stand for this device, which at least to us, feels like the ideal way to use this TV. The studio stand resembles a easel, and really makes for a beautiful piece of furniture in your home. Even if you cant spend on the Studio Stand, wed recommend wall mounting this TV, because the Basic Stand is a dead giveaway that this is in fact not a piece of art. After all, how many people do you know who place paintings on a desk? The basic stand is a dead giveaway that this is a TV Completing the concept is Samsungs invisible cable, which runs from the bottom of the TV to the OneConnect box. Its a transparent cable, meant to be hidden in plain view, so that the TV doesnt interfere with the rest of your furniture. And all this put together, the Samsung Frame is without a doubt the most beautiful television you will see. You could argue that its a thick mess, but that somehow adds to the aesthetics in our opinion. With the walnut or wooden frames, the thick border around the TV looks like a real frame, rather than a television frame. In fact, in a world where TVs are getting thinner, the thickness of this TV will actually throw many off. Art Mode The Art Mode is what this TV is all about. You could think of this as the screensaver mode on Googles Chromecast, except that Samsung uses much higher resolution images and from professionals. The TV comes with a host of artwork installed out of the box, and this is all catalogued by artist name. There an Art Store, which you can subscribe to for a starting price of Rs. 299 and keep building your library of artwork. You get the first month free here, but subscription charges start thereon. Samsung also allows you to put your own pictures onto the TV. For this, you use Samsungs Smart View app. The app shows you all your downloaded artwork and photos on your phone, which can be synced to the television. It takes a few seconds each time you change photos, but the experience is quite seamless otherwise. You will need your phone and the TV to be on the same WiFi network. The only issue here is that the TV cant automatically upscale your personal photos, so you will need to ensure that only high-res photos are used. Photos shot at 8MP and above should work fine, as long as they're taken using good cameras. Samsung has pre-loaded a bunch of artwork onto this TV You can also put photos from your phone etc. on this TV Theres a tiny motion sensor on the bottom the the TV, which detects movement in the room. The Frame will shift to Art Mode whenever it detects an empty room for an extended period. You can of course shift the TV to Art Mode manually as well. It takes a moment to recognise movement, which shouldnt matter to users. After all, you are meant to notice this TV, but not know that it is actually a full featured television. The TV also adapts the brightness to ambient conditions, so as to not stand out amidst other furniture. Theres a night mode that keeps it from interfering with your sleeping hours. Picture Quality As good as the Art Mode is, this is still a full-featured television. The Frame supports 4K video and has everything Samsungs QLED TVs do. In terms of contrast ratio, our tests show similar results as the QLED TV from Samsung. At 50% brightness, the contrast ratio comes to around 6000:1 with no direct light falling on the display. Thats an excellent score for any television, though its still behind OLED televisions like the LG OLED C7 or the Sony Bravia A1. Of course, that doesnt matter to Samsung and the niche consumer segment its targeting here. And overall picture quality is certainly amongst the better ones in today's market. You see the warmer tones that Samsung is known for and high resolution content looks great. The difference between this and Samsungs QLED is primarily in brightness, while colour fidelity is slightly lower as well. For instance, the greens in Lokis ensemble is slightly more punchy on the QLED, compared to the Frame. That said, the Frame still looks excellent and would suffice for most buyers. If youre worried about screen burn-in, Samsungs offering a 10-year warranty against it with this TV. That should convince even the most skeptical buyers. Samsung confirmed that this TV doesnt have a QLED panel either. Audio Quality In terms of audio, Samsung focused on loudness over fidelity. The audio experience here is good, if loudness is what you care about. Dialogues dont get muddled and the TV alone would suffice for larger rooms as well. However, it lacks depth in terms of bass response. The floor breaking beneath Lokis body during his fight with Hulk (in the first Avengers movie) doesnt sound very impactful, neither do explosions in Narcos and so on. Simply put, The Samsung Frames 40W audio output is enough for anyone whos not an audiophile. Software Weve always been fans of Samsungs software for smart TVs. Tizen is as fast and smooth as ever, with all the essential apps being available. That means you can download Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and more, though Hotstar hasnt added support for Tizen yet. Regardless, Tizen and WebOS remain our favourites amongst TV software today. The Frame will recognise connected devices, like Xbox or a hard drive, and they will show up with those names, instead of showing the HDMI number. Remote and Ports The OneConnect box houses four HDMI ports and three USB ports, which is plenty for most use cases. The box is the same as that on the QLED TV before this, so theres nothing to complain here. The OneConnect box helps you hide cables effectively, and is an interesting solution from Samsung. You also get the Samsungs minimalistic remote with this TV. Its called One Remote, because it allows you to control all connected devices with it. Thats an excellent solution for those who use various devices with their TVs. Bottomline At a starting price of Rs. 2,74,900, theres really no point in recommending this television to a regular consumer. Thats not because its a poor TV, but because it caters to a very niche audience. In fact, while these prices anyway narrow down the scope of such televisions, with its Art Mode, Samsung is targeting a whole other buyer here. The Samsung Frame will appeal to those who firstly have this kind of money, and secondly, are going to actually put effort into decorating their house tastefully. Are you one of them? If youre hiring an interior decorator to design your home for you, you should certainly check out the Samsung Frame. Its a beautiful TV indeed, and though it obviously focuses on the Art Mode, the TV side of things isnt shoddy either. If you cant find a TV that looks good, this is the one you should pick. Virtual Reality may still be finding its footing in the consumer environment, but the uses of the technology extend far beyond gaming or watching videos. One such example of using VR for the greater good is what Qualcomm calls the Think F.A.S.T VR platform. While we have heard of Augmented Reality headsets assisting in spine surgeries, Qualcomm is leveraging its Snapdragon 835 VR Platform to create a helpful training tool for medical professionals. The chipmaker has partnered with Dallas-based game studio Forward XP to create the Think F.A.S.T VR training module which places students in a virtual reality medical facility for the purpose of teaching them how to recognise stroke symptoms. F.A.S.T is a mnemonic for Face, Arms, Speech and Time. F reminds one to look for face droop, A is for observing weakness in the arms, S for spotting slurred speech and T for time to act. The first three steps help recognise if someone is having a stroke, while the fourth obvious step reminds an individual to call emergency services or head to the hospital. In Qualcomms Think F.A.S.T VR demo, a trainee learning the stroke recognition method is placed in a medical bay using the companys Snapdragon 835 VR Dev kit which allows the student to move around using the prototype headsets 6 DOF (degrees of freedom) tech for motion and voice tracking. 6-DOF allows one to move seamlessly in the virtual environment and look around corners by detecting rotational movement and translational movement the orientation and position. A floating assistant pops up in the virtual environment to help trainees interact with a virtual patient and onscreen instructions are also presented to assist students in following the four F.A.S.T steps. Qualcomm's prototype SD 835 VR headset Qualcomms Think F.A.S.T VR medical training module is still in early stages of development, but the technology seems quite promising. In the future, it could also be expanded to detect other common symptoms and provide immersive training to medical students and professionals. Oil and gas producer Amerisur Resources said Thursday the Plantanillo-25 well in Colombia has been successfully drilled with introductory data indicating the presence of an oil column in the U sand formation of the well. Platanillo-25, the 20th well of the Platanillo drilling campaign, according to Amerisur, was "successfully" side tracked to a total depth of 8,620 ft measured depth, on time and budget, with preliminary log interpretation indicating evidence of 22 ft net oil column in the U sand formation. That said, the N sand did not present net pay at this location, as expected. Amerisur also said the side track located the production well further up dip, nearer to the Platanillo 21 well, discovering the presence of "better" reservoir quality as well as additional pay thickness, increasing the potential to deliver more sustainable production. It now expected to initiate commercial production from the U sand in ten days, having successfully run and cemented the 7" production casing. On completion of the Platanillo-25, the company said it will move to commence drilling at the Platanillo-27 well, a planned well north of Pad 2N in close proximity with the Platanillo-25 well, to target a bottom hole location with a U-sand structural target. John Wardle, chief executive officer, commented: "This is a further good result on Pad 2N. I look forward to updating shareholders on the production performance of the well." Auroch Minerals , in which Cadence Minerals currently owns a 7.7% equity stake, is now half way through its Tisova drilling programme in the Czech Republic, according to Cadence Minerals, the early investment strategy & development company. On Thursday Cadence said that Auroch, an Australian based company focused on the commodities involved in the Global Renewable Energy markets, intersected the sulphide blanket as it predicted in its 3D model. While the second hole,TIDD003, cut across multiple zones of sulphide mineralisation containing visible cobalt and copper minerals within a 130m thick zone with 1-5% disseminated sulphides. Kiran Morzaria, chief executive officer of Cadence, commented: "These are encouraging early results from Auroch Minerals drilling programme at Tisova and start to demonstrate the highly prospective nature of this property." E-procurement software provider EU Supply said Thursday it clinched a number of small contracts across northern Europe and completed a development project. The AIM-listed company reported that it and its partners signed the contracts with a Danish Utility company Port of Rotterdam Authority and 3 municipalities in Denmark. At the same time, the group started work on a project for the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stipulating that all the above projects "are for the delivery of CTM as SaaS and related services", with most revenues under the contracts to be accrued in 2018. Finally, the company also announced that, following submission of the EUREKA development project's final report to Vinnova, receipt by the company of the final payment would be in 2017. Education services provider Malvern International has entered into a sale and purchase agreement with the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants , it announced on Thursday, to acquire the entire issued share capital of SAA Global Education Centre for a total consideration of SGD 0.5m. The AIM-traded firm said the consideration would be satisfied by the issue of 5,630,350 new ordinary shares of 5p each in Malvern, with completion of the sale and purchase agreement expected to take place on 7 November. It said SAA-GE has been a subsidiary of ISCA, providing commercial private education. SAA-GE has provided diploma, undergraduate, postgraduate and professional programmes in the accountancy, finance and business related disciplines for 30 years, Malvern explained, offering preparatory courses leading to ATTS, ACCA, FIA/CAT, ICAEW and Singapore Chartered Accountant qualification, as well as degrees from Plymouth University and the University of London in the UK. SAA-GE has a reputation for providing high-quality, industry-recognised programmes that have also attracted international students from Japan, China, Vietnam and the Philippines, Malverns board said in its statement. It continues to achieve high pass-rates and produces top-performing students and prize-winners for the ACCA and FIA/CAT programmes annually. SAA-GE has a four-year EduTrust Certification issued by the Committee for Private Education Singapore. It currently has more than 1,000 students. Malvern said the acquisition would provide it with fresh opportunities to reach and work with large local partners, with a substantial student base, as well as provide access to its highly qualified trainers and lecturers. It said it would also broaden and strengthen Malvern's platform as an international hub for accountancy and finance education, adding to its existing and upcoming offerings in Malaysia and London. For the financial year to 31 December 2016, SAA-GE reported a loss of SGD 1.8m on revenues of SGD 5.7m. As at 31 December 2016, SAAGE had net liabilities of SGD 0.9m. We are delighted to have SAA-GE join the Malvern Group, said Malvern International chairman Gopinath Pillai. This acquisition is in line with Malvern's international strategy announced in June 2017 and that is to focus its brand on a few key development skills, one of which is accounting and finance education. Looking forward we are both confident and excited at the opportunities this acquisition will bring. Vitesse Media said on Thursday that it swung to a pre-tax loss in the first half, as it announced the appointment of Edward Riddell as group finance director with immediate effect. The AIM-listed digital media and events business made a pre-tax loss of 213,000 in the six months to the end of September versus a gain of 3,000 the year before as total revenues dipped to 1m from 1.1m. Revenue in the events business was up 47.2% but this was offset by a 41% drop in media revenue, due to a combination of difficult market conditions for display advertising and a predominantly new sales team starting during the last half year. Vitesse said that as stated in the chairman's statement, the company has decided its best to begin moving away from the declining display advertising market towards more long-term visible revenue streams that better utilise its content creation and strong industry insight. Also on Thursday, the group said current head of finance Edward Riddell has been appointed as group FD with immediate effect. Riddell joined Vitesse in September 2016. Previously, he was finance manager for five years at fintech start-up CorporatePay Limited and subsequently WEX Europe following WEX Inc's acquisition of CorporatePay in mid-2012, with responsibility for all finance-related activities and reporting. At 1315 BST, the shares were up 4% to 2.60p. Catalonia's nationalist regional government has alleged before the Spanish Senate that suspending the region's autonomy is an "aberration" which will lead to an "extraordinarily grave" situation, even graver than the one the central government says it is attempting to solve. Senators in Madrid reportedly received the allegations at 0903 BST, three minutes past the stipulated deadline and just as the Catalan parliament was due to start its own deliberations on whether to issue a unilateral declaration of independence and on how to respond to Madrid's expected decision to go ahead and trigger article 155 of the Spanish Constitution the next day. In a somewhat unexpected turn of events for some observers, overnight the Catalan president, Carles Puigdemont, announced he would not travel to Madrid to defend his actions, which some hoped might open a window to direct dialogue, instead dispatching a representative. Via his account on Instagram, on Wednesday evening Puigdemont said: "We won't waste time with those who have decided to raze Catalonia's autonomy. We continue". In his allegations to the Senate Committee which was preparing the groundwork for a hearing the next day on whether to approve the central government's decision to invoke article 155, Puigdemont said: "[Article 155 establishes that the government in Madrid] may issue instructions to all officials in the autonomous region of Catalonia, as necessary, so that they carry out their constitutional and legal obligations or in order to protect the general interests of Spain." That, Puigdemont argued, does not mean removing the current regional government, going on to argue that the proper interpretation of that article only allows the government to enforce those measures needed to ensure that Catalonia stop its activities linked to the independence process. Instead, he continued, Madrid's petition to be allowed to remove the top government officials, call elections and to be given control of the local police and state media, had exceeded what was constitutionally allowed. By way of an immediate reaction, Spanish assets were little changed following the above news, with Madrid's top flight Ibex 35 trading lower by 0.18% or 17.50 points to 10,134.80, while the yield on the benchmark 10-year government bond was down by one basis point at 1.64%. The president of Spain's autonomous region of Catalonia unexpectedly called off a press conference at the last minute. Carles Puigdemont had originally been expected to deliver a statement at 1230 BST, which was later postponed until 1330 BST and then apparently cancelled without any apparent explanation. According to El Mundo, Puigdemont is now expected to speak "later in the afternoon". In quick succession to Thursday morning's news, sources from within the far-left Catalan nationalist party ERC told daily La Vanguardia that they would exit the current coalition government. -- More to follow -- Catalan president Carles Puigdemont will call fresh general elections for 20 December, according to a local news report. According a report from Catalan daily La Vanguardia, which did not cite any sources, Puigdemont's decision was the result of sharp divisions within the pro-independence block of parties which made reaching an agreement on a declaration of independence unviable. Issuing such a declaration would also go against the block's desire to portray itself as a movement that was acting in defence of a democratic movement and would leave the prospect of civil discord in the region as the most likely outcome. The pressure brought to bear on Puigdemont reportedly also helped to forestall various regional officials from tendering their resignations. Puigdemont was expected to issue a statement at 1230 BST but that was afterwards postponed until 1330 BST. In parallel, El Mundo reported that Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy would wait for Puigdemont to speak before issuing any response. London stocks were set for a positive open on Thursday as investors eyed a rate decision by the European Central Bank and ensuing press conference with Mario Draghi. The FTSE 100 was expected to open 16 points higher at 7,463. CMC Markets analyst Michael Hewson said: The pound saw a reversal of fortune and a nice rebound yesterday after the weakness of Tuesday as a better than expected Q3 GDP number of 0.4% put aside concerns that the Bank of England might get cold feet at next weeks rate meeting about pushing bank rate back to 0.5%, and back to where it had been before last years August rate cut. We do still have a week to go until next weeks meeting with more economic data due out between now and then, but a weak number yesterday would have made it much harder to justify pulling the trigger on a move next week. Hewson pointed out that markets are now pricing in an 89% probability of a rate hike next week. For Thursday, however, it will be all eyes on Frankfurt and the latest press conference of ECB President Mario Draghi. No changes are expected to be made to monetary policy at this meeting, however there has been persistent speculation as to what measures the ECB governing council might look to take with respect to the amount and duration of their 60bn asset purchase program which most people expect to be pared back at the end of this year, Hewson said. On the UK data front, the CBI distributive trades survey is at 1100 BST. In corporate news, third-quarter profits at Barclays were lower than expected as its investment banking business faced difficult markets but an improvement in the UK bank and the consumer credit arm. Pre-tax profit of 1.11bn was short of the consensus forecast of 1.43bn Information and analytics company Relx Group reported continued underlying revenue growth in the first nine months of 2017 in a trading update on Thursday, and reaffirmed its outlook for the full year. The company said underlying revenue growth was 4% in the first nine months of 2017, after it acquired six assets for 118m total in the year-to-date, and disposed of assets for 78m. Rare disease specialist Shire announced that the European Commission has approved a label extension granting a new indication for FIRAZYR (icatibant injection), broadening its use to adolescents and children aged two years and older, with hereditary angioedema (HAE) caused by C1-esterase-inhibitor (C1-INH) deficiency. The companys FIRAZYR has been approved in the European Union since 2008 for the symptomatic treatment of acute attacks of HAE in adults with C1-INH deficiency. Acacia Mining 's parent company Barrick Gold has more than doubled provisions for potential back tax charges in Tanzania, where the London-listed company has been embroiled in a dispute with the government since March. In Canadian-based Barrick's third quarter results released on Wednesday night, further detail was provided about the proposed framework agreed between Barrick and Tanzania's government, in including that a detailed proposal will be made to Acacia for review during the first half of 2018. Barrick, which owns almost 64% of Acacia's shares, increased its existing tax provision for Acacias historical uncertain tax positions from $128m to $300m, which incidentally is the amount Barrick agreed will be paid to the government of Tanzania by Acacia as part of the proposed framework agreed last week. Acacia said it does not intend to make any changes to its own provision of $128m as a result of Barricks proposed framework. "Once Acacia has received and had the opportunity to assess a detailed proposal, Acacia will also be able to assess the potential impact on Acacias historical uncertain tax positions." The tax positions refer to the claim from the Tanzania Revenue Authority that Acacia owes around $40bn of unpaid taxes, and a related $150bn of penalties and interest, as a result of Presidential Committee investigations that claimed to have found Acacia was under-declaring its gold and copper exports, which was disputed by the company and found highly questionable by analysts in London. Tanzania also proposed and then voted through new legislation to ramp up mining royalties and take 16% free-carry interest in foreign mining companies, though Acacia has referred its disputes with the government to arbitration. After Barrick last week shook hands with Tanzania's minister for justice and constitutional affairs, Palamagamba Kabudi, on a framework agreement to resolve the Acacia dispute, a proposal that is subject to review and approval by Acacia, in its results statement the Canadian company said it believed the deal was the "optimal path" for the resumption of normal operations. "Such a partnership has the potential to provide greater near-term certainty to Acacia and Barrick shareholders, and mitigate risk of future business disruptions; thereby improving the long-term stability and sustainability of Acacia's operations in Tanzania." Barrick and Magufuli agreed for revenues from Acacia's operations would be split on a 50/50 basis, with the government's portion delivered in the form of royalties, taxes, and the 16% free carried interest, with a new Tanzanian operating company created to manage the three mines, Bulyanhulu, Buzwagi, and North Mara, and the local government participating in decisions related to operations, investment, planning, procurement, and marketing. "Having agreed on a proposed partnership framework, the government of Tanzania and Barrick have created a working group to resolve outstanding tax matters relating to Acacia. "In support of the working group's ongoing efforts, the proposed framework agreed between Barrick and the government of Tanzania provides for the payment of $300m to the government of Tanzania by Acacia, on terms to be settled by the working group. Given Acacia's current financial position, these payments would be made over time, using Acacia's ongoing cash flows. As such, payment would be also conditional on Acacia's ability to sell dore and concentrate," Barrick said. Shares in Acacia were up 3% to 190.14p on Thursday morning, still down more than two thirds since 1 March. Analyst Yuen Low at broker Shore Capital called for Acacia to "proceed with arbitration in the interests of justice and precedent" as the investigations and assessments on which Tanzania was basing its claims were "patently dubious" if not "ludicrously ridonculous". "In the interests of justice and precedent, we will be extremely disappointed with Acacia if it chooses not to proceed with arbitration." He said for other mining companies not already invested in Tanzania, the government's action "essentially puts the county off-bounds for at least the duration of the Magufuli administration." Hunter Hillcoat at Investec said it was "an odd situation, Acacia being outside of the discussions between Barrick and the Tanzanian government. "Its a bit like parents in consultation with the headmaster over a wayward child. The parents are directly responsible for the position the child is in and the headmaster has an agenda only he can know, but it is the child that is in detention and facing the cane." Jeep had begun manufacturing the Compass SUV for the Indian market from June 2017. Now, the company has started the production of a new variant called as the Compass Trailhawk. It will be the top-spec trim for the international markets. The Compass Trailhawk gets cosmetic and mechanical updates as compared to the standard variant of the SUV. The front end of the Compass Trailhawk gets a newly designed bumper with rugged looking skid plate. Trending On DriveSpark: 2017 Tokyo Motor Show: New Kawasaki Ninja 250 Revealed Tata Hexa Downtown Urban Edition Revealed Ahead Of India Launch Bajaj Pulsar Is The Hot Favourite Of Indian Buyers - Here's Why 2017 Tokyo Motor Show: Kawasaki Z900RS Unveiled Recommended Video Jeep Compass Price In India Variant-Wise - DriveSpark The rear end of the new variant of the SUV also gets the same treatment with redesigned bumper with skid plates. The bonnet is partially blacked out which sets it apart from the standard variant of the SUV. The Jeep Compass Trailhawk draws power from a 2-litre diesel engine coupled to a 9-speed automatic gearbox. It is also equipped with Jeep's Active Drive Low-range four-wheel-drive technology for off-roading. The Select-Terrain 4WD system also gets a new Rock mode The ground clearance of the Compass Trailhawk has been increased by 20mm which results in improved approach and departure angle. The new variant of the SUV also gets hill descent control as standard. The Compass Trailhawk features new alloy wheels, dual-tone black and silver paint job, red recovery hooks at the front and all-weather floor mats. Apart from that the Trailhawk edition of the Compass is identical to the model sold in the Indian market. You can read our first drive review of the Compass to know more about the SUV. DriveSpark Thinks! The Jeep Compass Trailhawk is a rugged variant of the SUV focused towards off-roading. There are few cosmetic changes which render the SUV a rugged look thanks to the skid plates and the recovery hooks at the front. Jeep has not confirmed its plans to launch this variant in India, but we are sure that the Compass Trailhawk will definitely find buyers in the country. Jeep will also introduce the diesel automatic variant of the Compass in the coming months. New show homes unveiled in Brinnington A stylish new show village has been unveiled at Countrysides highly anticipated Blackberry Vale development in Brinnington, where 10% of the properties have already been snapped up by local buyers. Cllr Sheila Bailey, Stockport Councils Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing, alongside local ward councillors, praised the official launch of the first private housing development in the area, with a ceremonial event at the Blackberry Lane site. The development which is being built by Countryside in partnership with Stockport Council, features a collection of high quality and affordable three bedroom homes that are designed for modern family living. Cllr Sheila Bailey commented: Countryside took a leap of faith with this entirely new idea for Brinnington and I applaud their commitment to bringing forward a quality development that will enhance an already great community and place to live. Despite the challenges, local councillors and officers have remained focussed and persistent on delivering Brinningtons master plan and subsequent regeneration. Countrysides success story of providing homes for local people and attracting first time buyers from across the borough will hopefully pave the way for future development in Brinnington. Philip Whitehead, Regional Regeneration Director for Countryside, added: Blackberry Vale would not have been possible without the collaboration and close working relationship with local councillors, officers and the community, it truly epitomises public private sector partnerships at its best. We have seen unprecedented success on this site and have sold just over 50% of the development of which 70% have been sold to first time buyers, and we have buyers waiting for the next release of homes. This is largely due to the exceptional specification, the quality of the build and value for money not offered anywhere else in the vicinity. All of the 98 homes under construction will be available as freehold on the open market, from just 159,950, with the option to use the Governments 5% deposit Help to Buy scheme. Situated just four miles from Stockport and less than six miles from Manchester, the new Blackberry Vale development benefits from excellent transport links and easy access to a range of local amenities. Each of the new homes is being developed to a high quality specification to offer local families the unique opportunity to be part of the areas impressive transformation at an affordable price. For more information about the new homes at Blackberry Vale visit balckberryvale.co.uk, or visit the show village on Blackberry Lane, Brinnington, Stockport, SK5 8LA. Amazon on Wednesday announced a new service that will allow Prime members to receive in-home delivery of packages with the help of high-tech smart locks that allow drivers to open their front doors. Amazon Key will launch officially on Nov. 8 in 37 U.S. cities and surrounding communities, with additional locations to be added over time. The service will be available at no extra cost to Prime members, and it will work with standard, two-day, overnight and same-day deliveries. Amazon Key gives customers peace of mind knowing their orders have been safely delivered to their homes and are waiting for them when they walk through their doors, said Peter Larsen, vice president of delivery technology at Amazon. To use the service, Prime members must order an Amazon Key in-home kit, which includes the Amazon Cloud Cam and one of several compatible smart locks offered by Kwickset or Yale. The Amazon Key In-Home Kit starts at US$249.99. The locks can be installed professionally at no extra cost or self-installed by customers, according to Amazon. Beyond Deliveries When a driver requests access to the customers home, the Cloud Cam confirms the driver is at the right address through an encrypted authentication process. After the request is authenticated, the Cloud Cam starts recording the delivery and the door is unlocked. Customers can track the delivery using the Amazon Key app on their mobile phones. They get real-time notifications and can watch deliveries live or view recordings later. The entire delivery process is backed up by the Amazon Happiness Guarantee, the company said. The agreement is a big step for Yale. Its parent firm, Assa Abloy, also on Wednesday announced that it is testing an in-home delivery service with 100 customers in Sweden, in collaboration with delivery firm PostNord and e-commerce retailers Jollyroom, Apotea and Komplett. Yale Doorman digital locks are being used in the tests. Its significant in that were working with Amazon, obviously a powerhouse in online retailing, and working with them on one of the most innovative programs in e-commerce and home delivery, the firm said in a statement provided to the E-Commerce Times by spokesperson Terry Shea. The Amazon Key program will provide features beyond home delivery of packages, the company said. Customers will be able to grant keyless entry for family and friends, and theyll be able to set frequency and length of time for access to the home. Amazon plans to roll out a new program that will allow thousands of companies to access homes using the smart lock technology, including companies like housekeeping service Merry Maids and dog walking and pet sitting service Rover. Rover is changing the way pet owners discover, book and manage personalized care for their pets, said spokesperson Brandie Gonzales. This new integration with Amazon Key is the latest example of how we are leading the pet care revolution, she told the E-Commerce Times. Growth Outweighs Risk Amazon is gambling that the benefit of having secure home delivery of packages will outweigh the potential downside of the perception that its seeking an invasive level of access to the customer. While many customers might see this capability as overly intrusive, Amazon and Walmart has identified an intersection of customer needs and new technologies, noted Matt Sargent, senior vice president of retail at Magid. This capability [is] not only possible, but incredibly interesting to a subset of cutting-edge customers, he told the E-Commerce Times. The need already exists, according to Sargent. People have been looking for a way to provide secure access to prevent package theft, and to allow entry of housecleaners and other service providers. The advent of remote security cameras and smart locks has made fulfillment of this need a reality. The in-home delivery service is another example of Amazon inventing new ways to reach into consumer wallets without an obvious business case, said Paula Rosenblum, managing partner of RSR Research. I think its too intrusive and too risky, she told the E-Commerce Times. Amazon Prime has about 90 million members in the U.S., according to a report Consumer Intelligence Research Partners released last week. About 63 percent of all U.S.-based Amazon customers belong to Prime, the firm noted. Amazon considers Prime members critical to its growth, because on average they spend $1,300 a year on purchases nearly twice as much as non-Prime members. From a security standpoint, smart lock technologies pose more of a physical challenge than a technology challenge, suggested William Malik, vice president for infrastructure strategies at Trend Micro. The technology may grant access only to authorized Amazon employees, but it would be helpful to understand Amazons process for vetting delivery people, revoking their access, auditing conformance to Amazons standards, and providing warranty to misuse of that access, he told the E-Commerce Times. Augusts Experience August for years has been running August Access, a home delivery service that provides retailers and services of all stripes including Sears Home Delivery and dog-walking service Wag with the ability to get secure access to customers homes. Years ago, when his former housekeeper had to return home to Brazil, she still had the keys to his house, recalled August CEO Jason Johnson. What are people to do in situations such as that one, he wondered, change the locks? Although Johnson didnt feel he needed to do that, it seemed many people would value the ability to provide controlled access to their homes for certain activities,. The desire to find a solution to that problem led Johnson and a cofounder to launch August. From the beginning, we thought about how could we provide conditional access to the home, he told the E-Commerce Times. The August smart locks use secure Bluetooth technology, with a layer of encryption on top, plus a third level of security that has been subjected to a white hat security audit to guard the systems against potential intrusion. Just last month, Walmart began working with August and Deliv to test in-fridge delivery of food. The companies have been testing the service in the Silicon Valley area with a select number of customers who have August smart locks. They are provided a one-time passcode for secure access to allow deliveries to be placed inside the home. Were interested in providing additional solutions and options for customers to make it easy for them, Walmart spokesperson Ravi Jariwala told E-Commerce Times. Walmart earlier this month announced the acquisition of Parcel, a startup that delivers meal kits, groceries and e-commerce purchases to homes in New York City. Walmart plans to use Parcel for last-mile deliveries of groceries and packages from Walmart and Jet. RoboCyberWall on Tuesday launched its proprietary precision firewall solution bearing the same name. RoboCyberWall is designed to protect HTTP and HTTPS (SSL) ports on Linux-based Apache2 and NGINX Web servers. The patent-pending firewall blocks all known exploits and zero-day attacks on Apache2 and NGINX Web servers, according to the developer. It is the only firewall designed from the ground up to protect the Linux Apache2 or NGINX Web servers root directory, as well as the document root directory. The products Modular Security paradigm for Linux server perimeters has been hacker tested for more than a year. It is far more secure than yesterdays all-in-one firewalls, according to the company, which describes them as Jack of All Trades, Master of None. RoboCyberWall-protected servers, despite thousands of attempts by multiple hackers challenged to do otherwise, have never been successfully hacked, said John R. Martinson Sr., CEO of RoboCyberWall. The Linux server firewall solution targets small and mid-sized business users. When coupled with fully compatible Web application firewalls from multiple vendors, RoboCyberWall provides a complete security solution, Martinson told LinuxInsider. Matter of Necessity No firewalls currently are designed specifically to protect the Web servers actual root directory. Hackers know this, so they attack via the Internet protocol address assigned to the Web server that is serving up packets for the domain name server via the HTTP protocol, explained Martinson. That allows hackers to breach the Web servers root directory to gain access to the users data, which resides in the Web servers DocumentRoot directory. Internet-borne threats such as ransomware and other malware are driving the need for organizations to rethink their existing security frameworks, such as firewalls and browser isolation, Daniel Miller, director of product marketing at Ericom Software, told LinuxInsider. The aggressive activities of well-organized and financed hackers means that businesses of every sort need to be vigilant or risk being crippled. That can be especially difficult for SMBs that do not have the financing or expertise available to mount sophisticated defensive efforts, said Charles King, principal analyst at Pund-IT. RoboCyberWall aims to address those organizations pain points and keep some of their most vulnerable targets safe from attacks and exploits, he told LinuxInsider. What It Does In securing the non-application portion of the stack, RoboCyberWall provides pinpoint protection for Linux Apache2 or NGINX Web server HTTP and HTTPS ports. Typically, these are ports 80 and 443, which are two of the top three most-targeted ports for attack worldwide, based on Akamais State of the Internet report. The attackers goal is to get access to the Web servers change log files so they can take over the Apache2 or NGINX Web server, noted Martinson, Hackers can use a known hack, a zero-day exploit or a brute force attempt. A bad actor who has breached an Apache2 or NGINX Web servers root directory gains complete access to the DocumentRoot directory where the actual data is located. Product Comparison RoboCyberWall differs from competing security tools for Linux servers, said Martinson, in five key areas: It is easy to install, using very little processor overhead; It is inexpensive, licensed at US$8.95 per month; Its dynamic whitelist results in zero false positives; It prevents exploits rather than cleaning up afterward; and It results in no downtime or lost revenue. Older technology has to guess which packets are good or bad, making detection of zero-day attacks impossible, Martinson said. Generally, RoboCyberWall is a software-only solution, meaning that it is downloadable and designed to run on a host Linux-based Apache2 and NGINX Web server, said King. That makes it simpler and easier to deploy than packaged solutions, and far cheaper than dedicated firewall appliances, he added. RoboCyberWall consumes minimal processing and memory resources, and minimal whitelisting features. While the product may suffer from focusing on HTTP and HTTPS ports, those are the ones most often targeted by hackers, King pointed out. The solutions minimal footprint requirements also mean that it can be effectively used on older systems repurposed for Web-serving needs. Thats a common practice among the cost-conscious SMBs that are the companys primary market targets, he explained. Better Mousetrap Linux-based DevSecOps shops that are building modern applications are another niche customer target. RoboCyberWall should fair well, as it is purpose-built for protecting Web applications. Most players in that space have a wide range of coverage and do not necessarily focus on Linux/Web applications, said George Gerchow, vice president of security and compliance at Sumo Logic. At Sumo Logic, we do not run Windows at all, and so for us and for other organizations running similar environments, RoboCyberWall would complement what we are already doing, he told LinuxInsider. There is a major need for what RoboCyberWall offers in todays market. The entire InfoSec community should be moving to host-based security solutions that scale and use intelligent automation to prevent attacks, he said, instead of traditional inline solutions that do not scale and have a hard time detecting new malware and bad packets. Chilean President Michelle Bachelet signed a bill Wednesday that prohibits the sale of single-use plastic bags in 102 coastal villages and towns in a bid to stop the build-up of ocean plastic and to [take] care of our marine ecosystems. An estimated eight million tons of plastic trash gets dumped into our oceans each year, literally choking marine life, harming ocean ecosystems and threatening the larger food chain. Businesses found using and distributing plastic bags could face a US$300 fine, Telesur reported about the legislation. In addition to banning plastic bags, the Chilean government plans to create 1.6 million square kilometers of marine conservation areas by 2018, AFP reported. The bill also welcomes non-coastal areas to join in the program to restrict or eliminate plastic bags. Our fish are dying from plastics ingestion or strangulationits a task in which everyone must collaborate, Bachelet said in a speech at the beach resort city of Pichilemu. Con el proyecto #chaobolsasplasticas, todas las comunas costeras se sumaran a conservacion de los oceanos. Un mar limpio para un #ChileMejor pic.twitter.com/Zz90K91BCr Michelle Bachelet (@mbachelet) October 25, 2017 According to the Environment Ministry (via Bloomberg BNA), Chile goes through more than 3.4 billion plastic bags per year, with 97 percent ending up in landfills, becoming illegally dumped, or ending up in oceans. We will become the first country in the Americas to implement a law of this type and we call on other countries to assume this responsibility, Bachelet said last month at the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Bloomberg BNA also noted that 50 of Chiles 345 municipal districts have already regulated plastic bag usage to some degree, including banning shops from providing plastic bags, limiting the number of bags a customer can receive, or encouraging stores to switch to reusable bags. Environmental advocates praised the ban. We hope that parliamentarians will support this initiative which is good for the country, said Ricardo Bosshard, the head of World Wildlife Fund Chile. On social media, many cheered the move with the hashtag #chaobolsasplasticas, or bye plastic bags. Enrique Pena Nieto, the President of Mexico, thanked Bachelet for her work and said that Mexico will join Chile in the effort to protect the biodiversity of our seas. Gracias Presidenta @mbachelet. Mexico se suma al esfuerzo de otros paises, como Chile, para proteger la biodiversidad de nuestros mares. Enrique Pena Nieto (@EPN) October 24, 2017 Erik Solheim, the head of the United Nations Environment Program tweeted, Great news from Chile! A ban plastic bags in over 100 coastal areas! By Jessica Corbett The U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works on Wednesday advanced the nominations of four potential assistant administrators for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), raising concerns among conservationists and Democratic lawmakers who worry the candidates connections to various industries will further endanger regulations that have been in under attack since Trump appointee Scott Pruitt took over as the agencys administrator. The four EPA nominees whose fate could soon be decided by a full senate vote are: William Bill Wehrum, nominee to be assistant administrator for the Office of Air and Regulation at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Michael Dourson, nominee to be assistant administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention at the EPA; Matthew Leopold, nominee to be assistant administrator for the Office of General Counsel at the EPA; and David Ross, nominee to be assistant administrator for the Office of Water at the EPA. While Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), the committee chairman, introduced the candidates as well-qualified, experienced, and dedicated public servants, declaring their confirmation will fill critically important roles in ensuring that all Americans benefit from clean air, clean water, and clean land, conservationists and Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), the committees ranking Democrat, expressed concerns about the nominees ties to industry. All four of these nominees, especially Bill Wehrum and Michael Dourson, would accelerate Scott Pruitts mission to dismantle the EPA from the inside, said League of Conservation Voters vice president for government affairs Sara Chieffo. Far from draining the swamp, these industry insiders are entirely unfit to serve and pose a grave threat to our communities and our health. All four have condemned the very existence of the EPA and want to weaken it beyond recognition, threatening the EPAs mission to protect our clean air and water, Chieffo added. We call on the Senate to reject their nominations. Although Leopold and Ross have been criticized, Wehrum and Dourson have garnered the most negative attention. Carper told Reuters Wehrum and Doursons nominations were of grave concern, and called Dourson one of the most troubling nominees I have ever considered during my time on this committee. Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) said Dourson was so far out of the scientific mainstream, it is outrageous. Weve done the wrong thing, Carper said after the committee voted along party lines to approve both men. I have never been this troubled on this committee, or any committee, in 17 years. Wehrum, an attorney, was nominated for this same position in 2006, but his name was withdrawn over concerns about his industry connections. He has represented several industry groups and corporations, including the American Petroleum Institute and Kinder Morgan, in fights against clean air and other health protections, reported The Intercepts Sharon Lerner. During a committee hearing earlier this month, Wehrum reportedly said I believe thats an open question, when asked whether he believed with high confidence that human activities [are] the main driver of climate change. If confirmed, Wehrum would oversee various regulations aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. Lerner describes Dourson, who would hold influence over the agencys chemical policy, as a massively conflicted scientist known within industry for his ability to come up with standards companies liked, create science to justify them, and then sell the package to the EPA. Critics of Dourson worry that his appointment will interfere with update to a major chemical safety law that was updated last year. If approved by the full Senate, Dourson will oversee the implementation of the updated law, the Toxic Substances Control Act, though he has been paid by manufacturers and other interested parties to work on 20 of the chemicals that may come before him as part of its implementation, Lerner wrote. When asked during his confirmation hearing whether he would recuse himself from making decisions about these chemicals earlier this month, Dourson refused. The Senate committees ten Democrats sent a letter to Dourson on Tuesday, pointing out that while his assistant administrator position is pending, he has been appointed to serve as an adviser to Pruitt, which they wrote, creates the appearance, and perhaps the effect, of circumventing the Senates constitutional advice and consent responsibility regarding the position to which he has been nominated. It has been widely reported that Nancy Beck, previously of the American Chemistry Council, has been working behind the scenes to undermine the protections Congress intended when updating the toxic substances law last year, the senators noted, just days after the New York Times published a particularly damning piece about Becks recent revisions to EPA rules. Similarly, they wrote to Dourson, Your prior association with the the tobacco industry and your extensive work for the American Chemistry Council and other chemical manufacturers led The New York Times to deem you a scientist for hire and accordingly raises similar concerns. Reposted with permission from our media associate Common Dreams. A project to save a small, critically endangered porpoise called the vaquita in the Gulf of California succeeded in capturing a 6-month-old calf in mid-October. Veterinarians noticed signs of stress, so they made the decision to release it back into the wild, rather than keep it in a sea pen. The projects leaders are heartened by the experience and hope to round up more vaquita to keep them safe from the still-present threat of gillnet entanglement in the northern Sea of Cortez. For the first time, a team of scientists has captured and then released a vaquita (Phocoena sinus), a rare porpoise in the Gulf of California, as part of a project called VaquitaCPR aimed at hauling the critically endangered species back from the edge of extinction. The successful rescue made conservation history and demonstrates that the goal of VaquitaCPR is feasible, said Rafael Pacchiano, the minister of the environment and natural resources in Mexico, in a statement. No one has ever captured and cared for a vaquita porpoise, even for a brief period of time. VaquitaCPR The VaquitaCPR team, comprising members from at least seven countries, caught a 6-month-old calf on Oct. 19 with the aid of underwater acoustic monitoring, but team veterinarians noticed that the animal seemed to be stressed out. Once they had taken tissue samples for later genetic testing, they released it back into the location where they had found it. While we were disappointed we could not keep the vaquita in human care, we have demonstrated that we are able to locate and capture a vaquita, said Lorenzo Rojas-Bracho, a government scientist and the head of VaquitaCPR, in the statement. Short for Vaquita Conservation, Protection and Recovery, VaquitaCPR is a Mexican government-led project aiming to find the porpoises in the wild and house them in specially built pens. Its a last-ditch effort to save the remaining vaquita, whose numbers have declined to fewer than 30, one that was recommended by the International Committee for the Recovery of the Vaquita, known by its Spanish acronym, CIRVA. Team members with a vaquita calf. VaquitaCPR Gillnets, now banned in the Gulf of California, still pose the persistent danger of entanglement to vaquita, whether as abandoned ghost nets or those used by fishermen and women hunting for a Critically Endangered fish called the totoaba (Totoaba macdonaldi). Totoaba swim bladders fetch thousands of dollars in Asian traditional medicine markets. Ultimately, the team plans to shelter caught vaquita in floating sea pens near the town of San Felipe until the animals have a better chance of survival. Crews are also searching for ghost and illicit nets with the help of U.S. Navy-trained dolphins and a boat from the Whale Museum in La Paz. VaquitaCPR said that the boat is responsible for pulling 274,320 meters (900,000 feet) of nets from the water. Though the scientists werent able to keep the animal from this first rescue, Rojas-Bracho said that the process helped validate VaquitaCPRs ability to transport and assess the health of a captured vaquita. The animal is sometimes referred to as the panda of the sea or by its Spanish name, vaquita marina, which translates to little sea cow. Pacchiano said this experience made him hopeful. I am confident we can indeed save the vaquita marina from extinction. Video of vaquita rescue efforts in the Gulf of California below. Reposted with permission from our media associate Mongabay. In the past days we have seen new desperate attempts by corporate bullies to criminalize protests and spark unfounded fear of community protectors. Greenpeace is committed to standing up not only for our planet but for everyones right to speak out and peacefully protest. If we dont all stand together against this intimidation, we might be facing a truly dystopian future. On Tuesday, members of Congress called for individuals and environmental activists protesting pipelines to be prosecuted as terrorists. Today, the fossil fuel echo chamber is repeating both the call for prosecution and the false allegations. Energy Transfer Partners and its cronies in the Trump administration are trying to rewrite the history of Standing Rock in real time. This is shameful. Washington, DC special interest groups like Energy Builders are just as eager as their Congressional allies to silence dissent however they can. This database is especially absurd in light of the fact that Standing Rock camp security identified infiltrators who were gathering information to inflate security threats at the time of the protests, information later confirmed by internal documents of TigerSwan, the paramilitary contractor, and personal accounts of former TigerSwan personnel. Greenpeace campaigns for a green and peaceful planet and for the right of free people to speak without fear. This is more fear-mongering by a corporate bully hoping to see what it can get away with in Trumps America. These pipelines threaten human and sovereign rights, compromise drinking water that millions of people rely on, potentially contaminate peoples land and livelihoods, and create more climate-charged superstorms affecting vulnerable communities around the world. The company tasked with restoring Puerto Ricos electricity grid has apologized after feuding with the mayor of San Juan and threatening to pull its services. Mayor Cruz and everyone in Puerto Ricoon behalf of our employees, we would like to apologize for our comments earlier today, which did not represent who we are and how important this work is to help Puerto Ricos recovery, Whitefish Energy tweeted. We have a strong team on the ground, we are working hard and making good progress. Our goal is to continue to do all we can to help everyone in Puerto Rico in this time of need. Questions have been raised about how the company from Interior Sec. Ryan Zinkes Montana hometown landed such a lucrative government bid. Whitefish only employed only two full-time staff members before Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico more than a month ago. The tweet was sent after Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz demanded more transparency about the tiny energy firms $300 million contract which bypassed a formal bidding process. The Washington Post reported earlier this week that Whitefish Energy CEO Andy Techmanski has ties to Secretary Zinke. One of Zinkes sons once worked at one of Techmanskis construction sites. The secretarys office and Whitefish deny that the alleged link lead to the contract. Democrats on the House Natural Resources Committee demanded a full investigation into the contract. House Natural Resources Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) also told reporters he has questions about the bid selection process. The contract should be voided right away, and a proper process which is clear, transparent, legal, moral and ethical should take place, Cruz told Yahoo News Wednesday. It seems like what the Puerto Rican people are going to be paying for, or the American people are going to be paying for, is an intermediary that doesnt know what is at stake here and that really has to subcontract everything. What we need is somebody that can get the job done and that has the expertise to get the job done. Later on Wednesday, Whitefish replied: We share the mayors frustration with the situation on Puerto Rico, but her comments are misplaced. Whitefish has more than 300 workers on the island and that number is growing daily. We are making progress and doing work when others are not even here. We find her comments to be very disappointing and demoralizing to the hundreds of people on our team that have left their homes and families and have come here to help the people of Puerto Rico. Tensions only ramped up from there. Cruz, who has sparred with President Trump over the administrations hurricane relief efforts, sent off a series of tweets. You think I am the only one in the world who has commented on this? she wrote. What is it about women having an opinion that irritates some? If @WhitefishEnergy feels that asking for transparency is misplaced, what are they afraid we will find, she added. Whitefish then shot back, 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? 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 The companys tweet only raised more concerns. They are threatening not to do their job which frankly is quite irregular for a company hired to the work for the public sector, Cruz wrote. Whitefish finally issued an apology Wednesday night. Cruz has not issued a direct response but retweeted several posts, including: You just don't get it. We see you as leaches. Work is "important" for you because it'll make you millionaires while keeping us in the dark. https://t.co/My6Fv6uUet Armando Valdes (@armandovaldes) October 26, 2017 Florida is among several states gambling that their English-only laws will provide cover from a new federal push on English-language-learner education. Under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, states must make every effort to develop statewide assessments in students first languages if they constitute a significant portion of the student population. But Florida, with its nearly 300,000 English-learners, has shown no interest in translating its state tests into Spanish and Haitian Creole, languages spoken by tens of thousands of public school students in the state. The state education department does not want to give exams in language arts, math, or science in students native languages as ESSA suggests because, it says, the state constitution declares English Floridas official language. Florida is one of at least a half-dozen states that have taken that stance, but none have as many English-learners as the Sunshine State, where roughly 12 percent of all K-12 students are classified as English-learners. Their presence is even more prevalent in certain regions: One in four students in the Miami-Dade County school systemthe largest district in the state and one of the 10 largest in the countryare ELLs. The law stops short of requiring the assessment in languages other than English. Most states, including Florida, give students with limited English skills standard state tests. Arkansas, Georgia, and Virginia are also seeking to bypass the latest round of ESSA plan submissions. While the ELL population in Arkansas is small but growing, Georgia and Virginia have sizable populations. Digging for Details Dozens of states have laws or constitutional amendments on the books that establish English as their official language. But only a handful, including Virginia, address how schools should educate students who dont speak English as their first language. Florida, with its 23-word English-only clause, isnt one of them. Virginia prohibits instruction in languages other than English except on a very limited basis and in foreign language classes. Floridas ESSA plan maintains that giving assessments to students in their native languages would impede their ability to demonstrate their knowledge. Among states with larger English-learner populations than Florida, California and Texas have put up no resistance to offering native-language assessments. Some states with smaller ELL populations, including Minnesota and New York, plan to develop exams in three or more languages to accommodate students. When we look at the state plans some of them did address the questions about native language assessments very thoroughly, said Delia Pompa, a senior fellow for education policy at the Migration Policy Institutes National Center on Immigrant Integration Policy. Other states were more cavalier about it. It indicates a lack of commitment, a lack of being serious about the needs of students and looking forward. But experts say test translations arent always as helpful as they might seem. If the student is not literate in their native language, then offering a native-language assessment is not going to help, said Joan Herman, director emerita of CRESST, the National Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards & Student Testing at the University of California, Los Angeles. Herman said translated tests can be beneficial for certain groups of students, particularly those at the middle or high school level who already had a strong foundation in their home language before coming to the United States. But for some states, developing tests in languages other than English could prove too costly, she added. Initially, Florida planned to request a waiver from the language requirement. But after pressure from state and local activists, the state folded the waiver into its ESSA plan. The Florida Department of Education did not make Chane Eplin, who oversees the states ELL program, available for an interview. The state may have good reason to be confident. Arizona and Tennessee already have won approval for their ESSA plans after citing state English-only laws as a reason not to offer native-language assessments. And some English-learner advocacy groups are not optimistic that DeVos will make an about-face on this round of submissions. The U.S. Department of Education did not respond to requests for comment on native-language assessments. We dont have any indication that [the Education Department will] be pushing back on the lack of native-language assessments, said Loren Trull, a senior education policy adviser with UnidosUS, formerly the National Council of La Raza. TESOL International Association and the Joint National Committee for Language-National Council on Language and International Studies submitted a letter to Florida Gov. Rick Scott in August, arguing that bills introduced in the state legislature to authorize tests in languages other than English should serve as proof that the states official-English clause does not provide grounds to deny the assessments. To move away from developing native-language assessments tries to mask the idea that theres going to be great diversity in this population with different needs, said John Segota, the associate executive director for public policy & professional relations at TESOL. Competing Interests While the state has declared itself an English-only state, Florida is among the more than 25 states promoting bilingualism among K-12 students by offering the seal of biliteracya special recognition on high school diplomas for graduates who demonstrate fluency in two or more languages. To earn the award in Florida, a student has to achieve a qualifying score on a foreign-language assessment. Rosa Castro Feinberg, a spokeswoman for Floridas League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) chapter, argues that its insincere to allow foreign-language assessment to prove biliteracy, but not competency in a native language other than English. Last year, less than 15 percent of English-language learners in Florida passed the 10th grade reading exam. This is not a new problem. State data show Floridas English-language learners have been struggling in English and math for more than a decade. Republican state Rep. Manny Diazwho co-sponsored the states biliteracy seal legislationdoesnt think the state should translate tests for English-learners. It becomes a crutch for students, said Diaz, a former teacher and assistant principal in the Miami-Dade schools. At most, test directions should be translated, Diaz said. In many states, the students can get some extra help, including more time to finish a text, bilingual dictionaries, instructions read aloud to them, and testing in small groups. Florida also allows teachers to answer questions about directions or specific words or phrases in the students native language. In West Virginia, the lone state where English-learners represent less than 1 percent of the student population, test directions are translated into at least 17 languages. Diaz does acknowledge that Florida could face a dilemma with students arriving from Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, a storm that ravaged the island and its schools. With families fleeing the island, state officials estimate that between 20,000 and 25,000 students, almost exclusively native Spanish speakers, could arrive in mainland schools in the coming months. Without native-language assessments, schools would have trouble figuring out what the students know. The issue of Puerto Rico complicates the situation on many levels, Diaz said. We have to take a look at how we as a state deal with that because clearly the students are not the same. As unpopular as No Child Left Behind was by the time it was ushered off the stage in 2015, advocates for students with disabilities could always point to one aspect of the law that they liked: by requiring that test scores of different student groups be reported separately, the law exposed the low academic performance of students in special education and required schools to do something about it. The replacement for NCLB, the Every Student Succeeds Act, still requires that the academic performance of students with disabilities be reported, along with other student subgroups. But the law trades federal mandates for state flexibility on what should happen to a school whose students with disabilities are consistently lagging their peers. States and some lawmakers have cheered the end of what they call federal overreach. But some advocates worry that the accountability goals states have set for themselves wont move the needle for a group of students who have long struggled with low achievement. At worst, they worry, states can create rules that allow the performance of students with disabilities to again be obscured by the relatively higher test scores of the general student population. Lower Goals A lot of the really crucial decisionmaking got left to the states, said Ricki Sabia, the senior policy advisor at the National Down Syndrome Congress. Our concern was with how they would use this discretion. Sabia and Candace Cortiella, the founder of the Advocacy Institute, examined drafts of the accountability roadmaps developed by 37 states. All of the states have submitted ESSA plans to the U.S. Department of Education for evaluation; the department has given its stamp of approval to 14 states and the District of Columbia. A reading of the draft plans illustrates some of Sabias and Cortiellas concerns. In New Mexicos accountability blueprint, for example, it set a goal for itself to increase the high school graduation rate of students with disabilities to 79 percent in 2022, up from 62 percent in 2016. At the same time, however, the plan sets a goal to have 50 percent of students with disabilities scoring proficient on the statesEnglish/language arts and math assessments by 2022. Thats an ambitious goalless than 7 percent of New Mexican special education students meet that bar now. But it is difficult to understand how [students with disabilities] can be expected to graduate at a rate of 79 percent in 4 years while just 50 percent are expected to be proficient in reading and math, Sabia and Cortiella wrote in a letter intended to support local advocates. Plan Omissions Another concern is that the goals for students with disabilities are too low. New York, for example, is aiming for 63 percent of its students with disabilities to graduate with a standard diploma by 2022, up from 55 percent in 2016. New York notes that its end goal for all students, including students with disabilities, is a 95 percent graduation rate. But it also proposes resetting its goals each year. Educators didnt like the 100-percent proficiency goal that was embedded in the old law, Sabia said. But how do you say that some students arent going to be proficient? How do you say its OK if 5 percent or 10 percent arent? Thats what some of these new plans do. The education nonprofit Achieve, in its analysis of state plans, found that 26 states and the District of Columbia set the same long-term graduation goal for all subgroups. Twenty-four states set different end point goals for students with disabilities and other subgroups. Others have pointed not to whats in the state plans, but what they believe has been left out. Laura Kaloi is a government relations policy consultant with the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, a group that represents children in special education and their families. COPAA was looking for states to offer specific plans about how to prevent bullying and harassment, discipline that removes children from the classroom, and aversive behavioral interventions that compromise student health and safety. In an examination of the state plans that were submitted this spring, she said, those topics were not addressed. We know many, many school districts need work in this area, Kaloi said. The plans are light on some details because states were not required by the law to provide them. In March, the Senate overturned some accountability guidelines that were passed during the Obama administration, saying they were too prescriptive and not keeping in the spirit of the law and its focus on state-based accountability. For example, the law requires states to identify a minimum number of students in a particular subgroup that a school would have to enroll in order for that group to be counted in school accountability, known as the N-size. Under the ESSA accountability rules that the Senate threw out, states could select any N-size but had to offer a justification if they chose a number over 30. The Education Department does not require states to provide a justification for its N-size selection. Some states, such as Ohio, have chosen to provide such justification, however, suggesting that in some cases states are committing to a more rigorous standard. Ohio is moving from an N-size of 30 down to 15 by the 2019-2020 school year, which means that more schools will potentially be subject to accountability measures. After the change, 86 percent of the states schools will have to report on the progress of the special education subgroup, compared to 58 percent that are required to do so now. Melissa Turner, the senior manager for state policy for the National Center for Learning Disabilities, said her organization is also examining the state plans, with an eye to strong accountability for student subgroups, clearly defined policies that explain how states will help struggling groups of students, and greater use of accommodations and the appropriate use of alternate assessments. ESSA places a 1 percent cap on the percentage of all students who can take alternate assessments. That equates to about 10 percent of students with disabilities. Such alternate assessments are intended for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. Some groups, such as NCLD, have been concerned that schools have steered students to the alternate assessments in the past, instead of providing the teaching and support that would allow students to take the same tests as their peers in general education. Positive Implications Turner mentioned some plans that stand out as potentially positive for students with disabilities. Iowa, for example, has organized its ESSA accountability blueprint around multitiered systems of support, which are intended to provide research-backed instruction for all students in academics and in social-emotional development. Turner also singled out New Hampshire for its plans for personalized learning. Thats something that we applaud. We think thats a strong opportunity for states to meet the needs of all kids, she said. The organization is concerned, as other groups are, about different goals for different student subgroups. If the overall graduation rate goal is 95 percent, it should be the same for students with disabilities, she said. Were really hoping to see that gap narrow in the long-term goals, she said. Eight months into his term, President Donald Trump is finally picking up the pace of nominating staff members to serve in the top ranks of the U.S. Department of Education. But hes still way behind the Obama administration in filling the agencys vacancies. By this point in 2009, Obama had announced a nominee for every K-12 position in the department that requires Senate confirmation, an Education Week analysis has found. Trump, by contrast, has only tapped five of the dozen or so key players he needs to run the department. So far, Trump has picked Mick Zais, a former South Carolina state chief, for deputy secretary; Jim Blew, a former state advocate who used to run the Walton Family Foundation, for assistant secretary of planning, evaluation, and policy analysis; Peter Oppenheim, a former aide to Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., for congressional relations; Tim Kelly, a Michigan state lawmaker, for career and technical education; and Carlos G. Muniz, a former Florida deputy attorney general, as general counsel. But other key positions, including the assistant secretaries for elementary and secondary education and civil rights, are being filled by temporary players. Both of those positions were filled within the first several months of the Obama administration. U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos blames the slow pace in part on paperwork delays. Ive made decisions and the president has signed off on many of those decisions, she said in an interview. Its the process of paperwork with the FBI and the [office of government ethics] that has taken months and months and months. The vacancies have placed extra stress on the staff already in place, she added. Heavy on State-Level Experience Nearly all the people named to top posts at the department so far have some sort of experience at the state level, said Andy Smarick, a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a free-market think tank in Washington. Zais is a former South Carolina state chief. Kelly is a state lawmaker. Muniz worked as deputy attorney general in Florida. Blew has worked at state-level advocacy organizations, including 50CAN and StudentsFirst, a state level organization started by former D.C. Chancellor Michelle Rhee. And even Oppenheim, who spent much of his career on Capitol Hill, worked to give states more influence over K-12 policy as a key aide writing the Every Student Succeeds Act . Every other administration I know in Washington, they hired a lot of people who were part of the D.C. orbit, said Smarick, who worked in the department during President George W. Bushs administration. By contrast, they are loading up on people with state-level experience. So the question becomes what are they going to do with all of that experience. Everyone in high-level meetings may say lets trust states. Or, he said, they may use their state-level contacts to champion choice at the local level. Another connecting theme: ties to Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. DeVos herself used to sit on the board of the Foundation for Excellence in Education, the research and advocacy organization Gov. Bush started. Zais was a vocal supporter of Bushs 2016 presidential bid. Carlos Muniz, the nominee for general counsel, worked for Bush as a deputy general counsel. Some of the usual suspects in Washington didnt want to join the Trump administration or work for a secretary as controversial as DeVos. Theres a lot of anxiety around what this administration is going to bring, and some people may think its pretty risky to go into these roles, said one source who had been approached about a job at the department earlier this year. Potential staff may question whether its worth the risk, whether taking a job for this secretary could cause collateral damage to reputations and future opportunities in education. Ben wants to integrate more projects into his biology curriculum, but the administrators at his school insist that he prepare students for standardized tests. Megan notices that math classes at her school are segregatedwhite students in higher-level classes and black students in lower-level classesand sees the need for intervention. No one in her schools leadership is interested in taking action. Anna knows that the oppressive heat in her schools aging building makes it difficult for students to learn. She starts a letter-writing campaign to alert local politicians, but her principal tells her she is in violation of the school districts code of conduct for teachers. These are stories of teacher-leaders that I know and admire. They are teachers who have taken on responsibilitywhether in an official capacity or simply in their own practicefor improving their classrooms, their schools, and our education system as a whole. They are bringing their vast experience and hard-earned wisdom to bear on some of educations thorniest problems. And for the most part, they are being shut down. The challenges these teachers face are not technical. They know their craft, and they know how schools operate. As experienced teachers, they know whats best for their students. Their challenges are political. They have the expertise, but they lack the power to make the changes they want to see in their schools. And thats why the future of teacher leadership is the union. For a long time, I tried to solve educations problems by myself. As an overconfident young teacher, I thought that if I worked hard enough, taught well enough, and shared my ideas, I could make real changes in my school and my city. I spoke with my principal; I spoke with politicians; I even started an advocacy group. What I learned is that I couldnt affect much change by myself. We have to do it together. Although many people see teachers unions as slow-moving bureaucracies, I have come to see them as our best and only way to make real changes in our education system. As teacher-leaders, we can reclaim our unions as powerful forces for positive change. Instead of relegating unions to the limited role of defending teacher salaries and benefits, we can use our collective power to build the schools our students deserve. In Philadelphia, a group of teacher-leaders is doing just that. The Caucus of Working Educators (WE) is a group within our union that is inviting teachers to push for the changes we know will benefit our school communities. Recently, for example, teachers noticed that immigrant students were stressed and missing school due to fear that they would be apprehended and deported. In the face of this enormous political problem, an individual teacher might feel powerless to help her students. But together, members of WE formed an immigrant justice committee, built alliances with community groups like Juntos and the Education Law Center , and recommended that the school district offer training in immigrant rights to all school personnel. The committee hosted study groups, circulated a petition, participated in rallies and protests, and testified at school board meetings. Because WE organized and applied political pressure, the school district implemented a mandatory training on immigrant rights at the beginning of the school year. Using our collective power, WE made our immigrant students safety a districtwide priority. If we work together, our power to make changes in our schools is immense. But right now, we are only harnessing a small fraction of that power. Many teachers see the union as an entity that is largely removed from the day-to-day realities of the classroom, as an institution that matters only when its time to negotiate a new contract. Our union could be so much more, but only if many more of us become actively involved. What does it mean to be actively involved in our union? It means talking to our students and our co-workers so we can identify the problems that we share. It means working together to generate possible solutions and strategize about how to make them a reality. It means building relationships with all the people who care about our studentstheir family members, community groups, and all supporters of public educationand asking them for their support in making the changes we seek. And if your teachers union is not already engaging in this important work, it could mean starting your own caucus in order to bring about change within the union. As teacher-leaders, we are often our students most important advocates. By engaging in our union, we amplify our voices and demand a say in the policy decisions that affect our classrooms every day. Our unions, which have long ensured basic protections for both teachers and students, are in dire straits. Teachers unions are shrinking , which means our political power is shrinking along with them. With an upcoming Supreme Court case on compulsory union fees that could decimate all public sector unions, we will need to work harder than ever to engage our members and advocate for our students and our profession. The only way forward is a new vision for our unionone that invites us all into the fight for the schools our students deserve. A particular long noncoding RNA gives viruses a replication boost as they infect their hosts, helping them alter their host cell's metabolism to their advantage, scientists report. The finding reveals a new way that viruses interact with hosts, for survival, and reveals a potential target for developing broad-acting antiviral therapeutics. Viruses thrive in the hosts they infect because they alter the metabolic networks of these organisms, though just which molecules and mechanisms are involved in this process - allowing viruses to prosper - has been unclear. Identifying them is critical for better understanding viral infection broadly, which helps in developing antiviral strategies. Here, Pin Wang and colleagues sought to explore host-virus interactions outside of those controlled by type 1 interferon. They focused specifically on long noncoding RNAs, the function of which in virally infected cells has been unclear. Working in mouse and human cells, they identified a novel long noncoding RNA they call lncRNA-ACOD1 that was induced by viral infection, by multiple viruses. Its presence enhanced replication of these viruses through interaction with a particular metabolic enzyme, the researchers report. Critically, in cells deficient in this long noncoding RNA, viral replication was weaker, substantiating the molecule's role as a helper in the viral effort to hijack a host. ### TORONTO (October 26, 2017) - Each year, more people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast and prostate cancers combined, and low-dose CT (LDCT) screening for lung cancer has become a standard practice mostly due to the results of the National Lung Cancer Screening Trial. Evidence continues to evolve, in turn informing the benefits and risks of LDCT in clinical practice. Lung cancer experts and authors of the manuscript submitted to the journal CHEST -- Screening for Lung Cancer: CHEST Guideline and Expert Panel Report -- and will present the updated evidence to provide recommendations at CHEST 2017. Key recommendations and shifts from previous guidelines include: For asymptomatic smokers and former smokers age 55 to 77 who have smoked 30 pack-years or more and either continue to smoke or have quit within the past 15 years, we suggest that annual screening with low-dose CT should be offered. For asymptomatic smokers and former smokers who do not meet the smoking and age criteria in Recommendation #1 but are deemed to be at high risk of having/developing lung cancer based on clinical risk prediction calculators, we suggest that low-dose CT screening should not be routinely performed. For individuals who have accumulated fewer than 30 pack-years of smoking or are younger than age 55 or older than age 77, or have quit smoking more than 15 years ago, and do not have a high risk of having/developing lung cancer based on clinical risk prediction calculators, we recommend that low-dose CT screening should not be performed. For individuals with comorbidities that adversely influence their ability to tolerate the evaluation of screen-detected findings, or tolerate treatment of an early stage screen-detected lung cancer, or that substantially limit their life expectancy, we recommend that low-dose CT screening should not be performed. "This guideline differs from our previous guideline as we went beyond discussing harms and benefits," said Peter Mazzone, M.D., F.C.C.P., guideline chair. "We addressed implementation of low-dose CT screening, including who to screen, how to identify appropriate patients for screening, how to conduct a shared-decision-making visit, how to perform LDCT and how to manage abnormal findings." "The potential benefit of cancer screening to reduce the number of cancer-related deaths must be balanced with potential harms of screening," said Gerard Silvestri, M.D., F.C.C.P., guideline panelist and CHEST immediate past president. "Current evidence suggests that even within groups at high risk of developing a cancer, only a small fraction of those screened will benefit, while everyone screened is exposed to potential harms including physical and psychosocial consequences of identifying and subsequently evaluating a screen-detected nodule, radiation exposure, overdiagnosis and overtreatment. For this reason, our recommendations for screening have evolved to be even more selective and specifically target those highest risk populations. The evidence currently does not support widespread adoption of lung cancer screening outside of those patients described in our recommendations." Further results from the guidelines will be shared at the CHEST Annual Meeting 2017 in Toronto on Wednesday, November 1, 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, room 701A. The session will also be live streamed on Facebook Live by CHEST. The recommendation summary along with remarks for each recommendation and abstract can be viewed on the website of the American College of Chest Physicians, and forthcoming complete manuscript will be published in the journal CHEST. ABOUT CHEST 2017 CHEST 2017 is the 83rd annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians, held October 28 to November 1, 2017, in Toronto, Ontario. The American College of Chest Physicians, publisher of the journal CHEST, is the global leader in advancing best patient outcomes through innovative chest medicine education, clinical research and team-based care. Its mission is to champion the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of chest diseases through education, communication and research. It serves as an essential connection to clinical knowledge and resources for its 19,000+ members from around the world who provide patient care in pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine. For more information about CHEST 2017, visit chestmeeting.chestnet.org, or follow CHEST meeting hashtag, #CHEST2017, on social media. ### SAN DIEGO: One of the first studies testing the effectiveness of different operating room (OR) head coverings in preventing airborne contamination has found that surgeon's caps that expose small amounts of the ears and hair are not inferior to the bouffant-style, disposable scrub hats that cover those features. Results of the study were presented today during a Scientific Forum session at the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2017, and will be published online on the Journal of the American College of Surgeons website tomorrow, in advance of print publication. "Recently there have been concerns that exposed hair in the OR could increase the risk of surgical site infections, although there is no definitive evidence that it does," said principal investigator Troy A. Markel, MD, FACS, assistant professor of pediatric surgery at Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health, Indianapolis. "In fact, there are very few published scientific data supporting what the optimal headgear in the OR is." For their study, the researchers tested three common styles of commercially available surgical headgear. Disposable shower cap-like bouffant hats underwent testing, as did two types of surgical skullcaps, another name for the tie-in-the-back, close-fitting caps that are popular with surgeons: disposable caps with paper sides, and freshly home-laundered, reusable, cloth skullcaps. Unlike most tests for environmental quality, which Dr. Markel said are typically done in a static laboratory, their airborne contamination testing was performed in an actual OR under changing conditions. For each style of hat the OR team wore, they performed a one-hour mock operation, which included gowning and gloving, passing surgical instruments, leaving and reentering the OR, and performing electrocautery on a piece of raw steak to generate particles that were discharged into the air. Each hat style underwent testing four times, twice at each of two different hospitals. Both ORs had high-efficiency air-cleansing ventilation systems, according to the researchers. The multidisciplinary research team--a microbiologist, engineers specializing in ventilation, an industrial air hygienist, and a surgeon--used their previously developed method involving multiple tests of what they call environmental quality indicators.1 In one test using a particle counter, they counted tiny airborne particles, such as hair and skin cells, that landed in various parts of the room. They also measured microbial shedding, the bacteria and other micro-organisms collected and grown in Petri dishes placed at the sterile operating field and the instrument table in the back of the room. During the mock operations, the bouffant hats and the disposable surgical skullcaps had similar airborne particle counts, the study investigators reported. However, cloth skullcaps, which do not have a porous crown like their disposable counterparts, reportedly outperformed bouffant hats, showing lower particle counts and significantly lower microbial shedding at the sterile field compared with bouffant hats. Additionally, the investigators tested the fabric of each hat style for permeability (air flow), penetration (amounts of particles that pass through), and porosity (pore, or hole, size). Results of fabric analysis revealed that the bouffant hats had greater permeability than either of the other caps, the investigators reported. "Some organizations and hospitals have suggested that all OR personnel wear disposable bouffant-type hats, but we found no apparent infection-control reason to disallow disposable skullcaps in the OR," Dr. Markel reported. The researchers did not compare the amounts of airborne contaminants with infections at the surgical site. However, because they observed no statistically significant difference in the amounts of airborne contaminants in the OR between the disposable skullcaps and the disposable bouffant hats, he said, "I think it is difficult to say that one disposable hat is better than the other to prevent surgical site infections." Their study results have the potential to make an impact on the OR attire policies of hospitals and health care regulatory bodies, according to Dr. Markel. "I expect our findings may be used to inform surgical headgear policy in the United States," he said. "Based on these experiments, surgeons should be allowed to wear either a bouffant hat or a skullcap, although cloth skull caps are the thickest and have the lowest permeability of the three types we tested." Although Dr. Markel said that reusable skullcaps are "probably best" for minimizing airborne contamination in the OR, their disadvantage is the need to wash them. "Most hospitals don't have facilities to launder them, and surgeons may not launder their skullcaps every day," he said. "There needs to be a way to guarantee that reusable skullcaps are clean." The Chicago-based ACS recommends that cloth skullcaps be changed and cleaned daily.2 ### Dr. Markel's co-researchers for the study were: Thomas Gormley, PhD, from Middle Tennessee University, Murfreesboro; Damon Greeley from Global Health Systems, Fort Mill, S.C.; John Ostojic from ARTEC Environmental Monitoring, Indianapolis; Rahul Bharadwaj, PhD, Jonathan Rajala, PhD, and Angie Wise, MS, from AAF Flanders, Jeffersonville, Ind.; and Jennifer Wagner, PhD, from Prism Environmental Health and Safety, Discovery Bay, Calif. "FACS" designates that a surgeon is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. This study received funding from the American College of Surgeons and the American Society of Anesthesiologists. AAF Flanders, an air filtration company, donated its testing services. 1 Gormley T, Markel TA, Jones HW 3rd, et al. Methodology for analyzing environmental quality indicators in a dynamic operating room environment. Am J infect Control. 2017;45(4):354-359. 2 American College of Surgeons Board of Regents. Statement on operating room attire. Published online August 4, 2016. https://www.facs.org/about-acs/statements/87-surgical-attire. Accessed September 14, 2017. About the American College of Surgeons The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical practice and improve the quality of care for all surgical patients. The College is dedicated to the ethical and competent practice of surgery. Its achievements have significantly influenced the course of scientific surgery in America and have established it as an important advocate for all surgical patients. The College has more than 80,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world. For more information, visit http://www.facs.org. (Boston) -- Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) is one of 12 sites nationwide selected to receive the American Cancer Society's Institutional Research Grants program award. Beginning in January 2018, the three-year, $270,000 award will provide three pilot grants per year to junior faculty conducting cancer research. They will be chosen by an internal committee of faculty members with diverse cancer research expertise. "This awards program is prized for its opportunity to support early-stage research for our junior faculty; these small grants can be difficult to come by, yet are important in establishing proof-of-concept and paving the way toward larger grants," explained Avrum Spira, MD, MSc, director of the BU-BMC (Boston Medical Center) Cancer Center, who will lead the program. Since 1946, the American Cancer Society has funded research and training of health professionals to investigate the causes, prevention, and early detection of cancer, as well as new treatments, cancer survivorship, and end of life support for patients and their families. In those 71 years, the American Cancer Society's extramural research grants program has devoted more than $4.6 billion to cancer research and is honored to have given funding to 47 investigators who went on to win the Nobel Prize. The Council for Extramural Research also approved 80 grant applications totaling $44,075,250 that could not be funded due to budgetary constraints. These "pay-if" applications represent work that passed the Society's multi-disciplinary review process but are beyond the Society's current funding resources. They can be and often are subsidized by donors who wish to support research that would not otherwise be funded. In 2016, more than $9 million in additional funding helped finance 35 "pay-if" applications. ### Boston University School of Medicine began as the New England Women's Medical College in 1848 and was incorporated as Boston University School of Medicine in 1873. A leading academic and research institution with an enrollment of approximately 700 medical-degree students and 950 graduate students pursuing master's and doctoral degrees, the school has approximately 1,240 full- and part-time faculty members. One of the major biomedical research institutions in the United States, it is renowned for its programs in cardiovascular disease, cancer, pulmonary and infectious diseases, dermatology, arthritis, pediatrics and geriatrics, among others. In the vanguard of research activities, BUSM faculty contribute to more than 950 active grants and contracts, and provide clinical leadership for the Framingham Heart Study, the largest epidemiological study in the world. Its teaching affiliates include Boston Medical Center, the Boston VA Healthcare System, Kaiser Permanente in northern California and Roger Williams Medical Center in Rhode Island. For more information, please visit http://www.bumc.bu.edu/busm/. Cleveland Clinic researcher Chirag Shah, M.D., led the development of updated guidelines for the appropriate and safe utilization of accelerated partial-breast irradiation (APBI). The guidelines are published online in the journal, Brachytherapy. APBI is a breast radiation therapy technique in which targeted radiation is delivered, either via brachytherapy (applicator devices or multiple catheters) or through external radiation, specifically to the part of the breast where the tumor was removed without treating the whole breast. For patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and early-stage invasive breast cancer, APBI has been shown to be an alternative to standard whole-breast irradiation, allowing for a reduction in the duration of radiation therapy. The technique, by reducing the amount of normal healthy breast tissue treated with radiation, may also reduce side effects of treatment and improve cosmetic outcomes. In updating the guidelines, Dr. Shah led a group of physicians - appointed by the American Brachytherapy Society, with expertise in breast cancer and breast brachytherapy - to develop a consensus statement. The new guidelines recommend the technique for a broader group of patient by allowing younger patients to be eligible as well as those with DCIS. The authors' consensus is that the appropriate candidates for APBI include patients aged 45 years or older; all invasive histologies and ductal carcinoma in situ; tumors 3 cm or less; node negative; estrogen receptor positive/negative; no lymphovascular space invasion; and negative margins. "The updated guidelines support clinicians by offering them the ability to appropriately select patients for APBI, and data that supports the techniques," said Dr. Shah. "Guidelines allow for the selection of patients who can finish radiation treatment in one week or less, compared to the traditional period of three to six weeks, and potentially a reduction in side effects depending on the APBI technique." The previous APBI guidelines, also led by Dr. Shah, were developed in 2013. Since then, multiple randomized trials have been published which have increased the amount of data available to develop the updated guidelines. The authors' recommendation was based on review of literature including randomized trials, prospective studies, multi-institutional series, and single-institution reports addressing clinical outcomes and toxicities with APBI. ### About Cleveland Clinic Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. U.S. News & World Report consistently names Cleveland Clinic as one of the nation's best hospitals in its annual "America's Best Hospitals" survey. Among Cleveland Clinic's 51,000 employees are more than 3,500 full-time salaried physicians and researchers and 14,000 nurses, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic's health system includes a 165-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 10 regional hospitals, more than 150 northern Ohio outpatient locations - including 18 full-service family health centers and three health and wellness centers - and locations in Weston, Fla.; Las Vegas, Nev.; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2016, there were 7.1 million outpatient visits, 161,674 hospital admissions and 207,610 surgical cases throughout Cleveland Clinic's health system. Patients came for treatment from every state and 185 countries. Visit us at clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at twitter.com/ClevelandClinic. News and resources available at newsroom.clevelandclinic.org. Editor's Note: Cleveland Clinic News Service is available to provide broadcast-quality interviews and B-roll upon request. LOS ALAMOS, N.M., Oct. 26, 2017--Seven scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory were tapped this year as new Fellows of the American Physical Society (APS), a significant honor for the Laboratory and its people. The honorees are Christopher J. Fontes, Han Htoon, Toshihiko Kawano, John W. Lewellen, Laura Beth Smilowitz, Stuart A. Trugman and Vivien Zapf. "Selection as American Physical Society fellows reflects the vibrant engagement that Los Alamos scientists have with the larger scientific community," said Laboratory Director Charlie McMillan. This year, as Los Alamos saw the admission of seven scientists into APS, Director McMillan noted, "I am proud of the contributions Los Alamos scientists bring to professional societies through papers, scientific conference attendance and other professional interactions. Collaboration and the exchange of ideas through affiliations within societies such as APS play an important role in furthering the scientific innovation required to accomplish our national-security mission." APS nominations are evaluated by the Fellowship Committee of the appropriate APS division, topical group or forum, or by the APS General Fellowship committee. After review by the full APS Fellowship Committee, the successful candidates are elected by the APS Council. About the new Los Alamos fellows: Christopher J. Fontes, of X Computational Physics Division: For pioneering contributions to our understanding of atomic processes in plasmas and their application to a broad range of physics problems including nuclear fusion, laboratory experiment and astrophysics. Nominated in the APS Division of Atomic, Molecular & Optical Physics. Han Htoon, of the Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies: For pioneering accomplishments in development of single nanostructure, optical spectroscopy/imaging techniques, elucidating fundamental/quantum optical processes of quantum dots and single wall carbon nanotubes, and device integration of optical nanomaterials. Nominated in the Division of Chemical Physics. Toshihiko Kawano, of Theoretical Division: For significant contributions to the development of nuclear reaction theories in low-energy physics, their implementation in widely used nuclear reaction codes and their application to the production of evaluated nuclear data for neutron transport simulations for basic and applied science. Nominated in the APS Division of Nuclear Physics. John W. Lewellen, of Accelerator Operations and Technology Division: For leadership and contributions to the development of practical, high-power superconducting RF photocathode guns, including the development of novel RF cavity designs. Nominated in the Division of APS Physics of Beams. Laura Beth Smilowitz, of Chemistry Division: For pioneering radiography to study thermal explosions, including the development of both a scaled tabletop dynamic radiographic facility capable of producing continuous X-ray movies of high-speed events and the triggering techniques required to observe the spontaneous onset of a thermal explosion. Nominated in the APS Topical Group on Shock Compression of Condensed Matter. Stuart A. Trugman, of Theoretical Division: For outstanding and original contributions to polaron physics, quantum Hall effect, far from equilibrium phenomena, disorder and superconductivity. Nominated in the APS Division of Condensed Matter Physics. Vivien Zapf, of Materials Physics and Applications Division: For seminal contributions to the understanding of quantum mechanical properties of superconductors, quantum magnets and multiferroic systems at low temperatures and in extreme magnetic fields to 100T. Nominated in the APS Topical Group on Magnetism. ### About the American Physical Society The American Physical Society is a non-profit membership organization working to advance and diffuse the knowledge of physics through its outstanding research journals, scientific meetings, and education, outreach, advocacy and international activities. APS represents more than 50,000 members, including physicists in academia, national laboratories and industry in the United States and throughout the world. About Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos National Laboratory, a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security, is operated by Los Alamos National Security, LLC, a team composed of Bechtel National, the University of California, BWX Technologies, Inc. and URS Corporation for the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration. Los Alamos enhances national security by ensuring the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile, developing technologies to reduce threats from weapons of mass destruction, and solving problems related to energy, environment, infrastructure, health and global security concerns. In a large genome-wide association analysis, Dartmouth researchers identify novel gene-smoking interactions in lung cancer development, providing new candidate biomarkers and further closing the gap between heritability and lung cancer LEBANON, NH - Both environmental and genetic risk factors contribute to development of lung cancer. Tobacco smoking is the most well-known environmental risk factor associated with lung cancer. A Dartmouth research team led by Yafang Li, PhD, has conducted a study to display that gene-smoking interactions play important roles in the etiology of lung cancer. In their study, three novel SNPs (single-nucleotide polymorphisms), or variations in our DNA that underlie our susceptibility to developing disease, were identified in the interaction analysis, including two SNPs for non-small cell lung cancer risk and one SNP for squamous cell lung cancer risk. The three identified novel SNPs provide potential candidate biomarkers for lung cancer risk screening and intervention. The team's findings, "Genome-wide interaction study of smoking behavior and non-small cell lung cancer risk in Caucasian population," have been published in Carcinogenesis. The genotype and phenotype data used in this analysis came from OncoArray Consortium. "Genome-wide interaction scanning remains a challenge as most genome-wide association studies are designed for main effect association analysis and have limited power for interaction analysis," said Li. "This study is by far the largest genome-wide SNP-smoking interaction analysis reported for lung cancer. We also adopted a two-step strategy in the analysis to reduce the power loss from ordinary gene-environment interaction analysis." The three SNPs, identified in the team's study, stratify lung cancer risk by smoking behavior. These three SNPs can be potential biomarkers used to improve the precision to which researchers can categorize an individual's risk of lung cancer disease by smoking behavior, which are helpful for individualized prognosis and prediction of treatment plan. While this reported study was restricted to a Caucasian population and the results may not be generalized to other ethnicities because of the different genetic backgrounds, the team aims to further test the identified interaction effect using genotype from other populations. "The limited overlap between discovery genotype and replication genotype may have reduced the power in our validation study," says Li. "We believe as more genotype data becomes available in the future we can discover more important gene-smoking interaction in lung cancer disease." ### Yafang Li, PhD, is an Instructor in the Department of Biomedical Data Science at Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine. About Norris Cotton Cancer Center at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Norris Cotton Cancer Center combines advanced cancer research at Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine with patient-centered cancer care provided at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH, at Dartmouth-Hitchcock regional locations in Manchester, Nashua and Keene, NH, and St. Johnsbury, VT, and at partner hospitals throughout New Hampshire and Vermont. It is one of 49 centers nationwide to earn the National Cancer Institute's "Comprehensive Cancer Center" designation. Learn more about Norris Cotton Cancer Center research, programs, and clinical trials online at cancer.dartmouth.edu. A team of EPFL and European researchers has discovered a flaw in the way past ocean temperatures have been estimated up to now. Their findings could mean that the current period of climate change is unparalleled over the last 100 million years. According to the methodology widely used by the scientific community, the temperature of the ocean depths and that of the surface of the polar ocean 100 million years ago were around 15 degrees higher than current readings. This approach, however, is now being challenged: ocean temperatures may in fact have remained relatively stable throughout this period, which raises serious concerns about current levels of climate change. These are the conclusions of a study conducted by a team of French researchers from the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), Sorbonne University and the University of Strasbourg, and Swiss researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) and the University of Lausanne. The study has just been published in Nature Communications. "If we are right, our study challenges decades of paleoclimate research," says Anders Meibom, the head of EPFL's Laboratory for Biological Geochemistry and a professor at the University of Lausanne. Meibom is categorical: "Oceans cover 70% of our planet. They play a key role in the earth's climate. Knowing the extent to which their temperatures have varied over geological time is crucial if we are to gain a fuller understanding of how they behave and to predict the consequences of current climate change more accurately." How could the existing methodology be so flawed? The study's authors believe that the influence of certain processes was overlooked. For over 50 years, the scientific community based its estimates on what they learned from foraminifera, which are the fossils of tiny marine organisms found in sediment cores taken from the ocean floor. The foraminifera form calcareous shells called tests in which the content of oxygen-18 depends on the temperature of the water in which they live. Changes in the ocean's temperature over time were therefore calculated on the basis of the oxygen-18 content of the fossil foraminifera tests found in the sediment. According to these measurements, the ocean's temperature has fallen by 15 degrees over the past 100 million years. Yet all these estimates are based on the principle that the oxygen-18 content of the foraminifera tests remained constant while the fossils were lodged in the sediment. Indeed, until now, nothing indicated otherwise: no change is visible to the naked eye or under the microscope. To test their hypothesis, the authors of this latest study exposed these tiny organisms to high temperatures in artificial sea water that contained only oxygen-18. Using a NanoSIMS (nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometer), an instrument used to run very small-scale chemical analyses, they then observed the incorporation of oxygen-18 in the calcareous shells. The results show that the level of oxygen-18 present in the foraminifera tests can in fact change without leaving a visible trace, thereby challenging the reliability of their use as a thermometer: "What appeared to be perfectly preserved fossils are in fact not. This means that the paleotemperature estimates made up to now are incorrect," says Sylvain Bernard, a CNRS researcher at the Paris-based Institute of Mineralogy, Materials Physics and Cosmochemistry and the study's lead author. For the French and Swiss team of researchers, rather than showing a gradual decline in ocean temperatures over the past 100 million years, these measurements simply reflect the change in oxygen-18 content in the fossil foraminifera tests. And this change appears to be the result of a process called re-equilibration: during sedimentation, temperatures rise by 20 to 30C, causing the foraminifera tests to re-equilibrate with the surrounding water. Over the course of some ten million years, this process has a significant impact on paleotemperature estimates, especially those based on foraminifera that lived in cold water. Computer simulations run by the researchers suggest that paleotemperatures in the ocean depths and at the surface of the polar ocean have been overestimated. For Meibom, the next steps are clear: "To revisit the ocean's paleotemperatures now, we need to carefully quantify this re-equilibration, which has been overlooked for too long. For that, we have to work on other types of marine organisms so that we clearly understand what took place in the sediment over geological time." The article's authors are already hard at work. ### This study was conducted by a consortium of researchers from the Institute of Mineralogy, Materials Physics and Cosmochemistry (IMPMC - Sorbonne University, CNRS, the French National Museum of Natural History, and the Pierre and Marie Curie University), the Laboratory of Hydrology and Geochemistry of Strasbourg (LHyGeS - School and Observatory of Earth Sciences, CNRS and the University of Strasbourg) and the Laboratory for Biological Geochemistry (LGB - EPFL and the University of Lausanne). Reference Bernard S., Daval D., Ackerer P., Pont S., Meibom A., "Burial-induced oxygen-isotope re-equilibration of fossil foraminifera explains ocean paleotemperature paradoxes", Nature Communications, 26 October 2017. The advanced control system christened Leaf, an invention from Brazilian startup I.Systems, enables companies to forecast variations in consumption and control air flow and fuel intake, among other measures that ultimately cut costs. Currently, the system is also used by Votorantim Metais, Ambev, Oxiteno, Usina Sao Martinho and Ajinomoto, among other customers in 25 industries. I.Systems was found 11 years ago in the city of Campinas, Brazil, by the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) computer engineer Igor Santiago and other three partners. Thanks to the innovative potential and scalability built into the system, I.Systems attracted the attention of hPitanga Fund, which entered into a partnership with the startup. This risk capital fundi s headed by biologist Fernando Reinach and manages US$ 380 billion. Leaf is designed to solve common problems in the regulation of industrial automation. Based on fuzzy logic, the technology enables manufacturers to control a large number of variables in any production line. "We planned to supply the same product to any company," Santiago says. "We focused on the customer's problem and on the technology. We ignored market size, which to our way of thinking was infinite." The product began to take shape in 2007. The Sao Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP'S Innovative Research in Small Business program (PIPE) funded its development, supporting some components of the system, including a mini-simulator, a proof of concept for the controller, and later IntFuzzy, the first version of Leaf. Leaf was first tested at Coca-Cola Femsa in Jundiai, Sao Paulo State. Using the system, the brand's largest bottler in Latin America achieved a 31% reduction in waste due to variations in injected liquid levels and a 42% reduction in losses due to excessive fizzing, as well as being able to control pressure and flow valves at the same time. The result was a savings of 500,000 liters of soft drink and 100,000 PET bottles per year. Suzano Papel e Celulose, the world's second-largest producer of eucalyptus pulp, controls its boilers using advanced control technology developed by I.Systems. Each boiler is powered by different energy sources with different combustion speeds, including biomass, gas, and black liquor, a byproduct of the chemical treatment process used in the pulp and paper industry. Leaf, as I.Systems' advanced control system is called, enables Suzano to forecast variations in consumption and control air flow and fuel intake, among other measures that ultimately cut costs. Previously, whenever Suzano needed to increase or decrease steam consumption, it had to control each boiler to keep pressure stable and avoid a rise in operating cost. The association with Pitanga was crucial to defining the value-based pricing model implemented by I.Systems. The customer firm uses Leaf for a certain period, during which the benefits are measured. "Only then does the customer decide whether to purchase and license the product," Santiago says. "If the product doesn't add value, there's nothing to remunerate. It's a sophisticated commercial model used by few companies, but it's the model of the future." I.Systems has begun prospecting for its first overseas customers. "At the end of 2015, we applied to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for a patent to protect the technology for a Windows-based control system," Santiago says. ### About Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) The Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) is a public institution with the mission of supporting scientific research in all fields of knowledge by awarding scholarships, fellowships and grants to investigators linked with higher education and research institutions in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. FAPESP is aware that the very best research can only be done by working with the best researchers internationally. Therefore, it has established partnerships with funding agencies, higher education, private companies, and research organizations in other countries known for the quality of their research and has been encouraging scientists funded by its grants to further develop their international collaboration. For more information: http://www.fapesp.br/en. The global explosion of new roads is rife with economic, social, and environmental dangers, according to a study in Science led by Professor William Laurance from James Cook University. "We've scrutinized major roads and infrastructure projects around the world," said Laurance, "and it's remarkable how many have serious hidden costs and risks." The study was co-authored by Irene Burgues Arrea, an economist with the Alliance of Leading Environmental Researchers & Thinkers (ALERT) in Costa Rica, who has studied road-building costs and benefits throughout Latin America and Africa. The most urgent priority, say the researchers, is limiting millions of kilometers of new roads being planned or built in high-rainfall areas, mostly in developing nations of the Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Latin America. "This is where ambition for quick profits meets nearly impossible engineering," said Laurance. "Rainfall-drenched roads develop pot-holes, giant cracks and landslides so fast it's nearly unbelievable," said Laurance. "They can quickly turn into giant money-losers." "Many roads that are planned for wet, swampy or mountainous regions shouldn't be built, and that's based only on economic criteria," said Laurance. "If you add in environmental and social costs, then the pendulum swings even harder against new roads, especially in forested areas with high environmental values," said Burgues Arrea. By the year 2050, it is projected that there will be an additional 25 million kilometers of new paved roads on Earth--enough to encircle the planet more than 600 times. And in just the next three years, paved roads are expected to double in length in Asia's developing nations. "The public often ends up with major debts from failed roads. A few road developers and politicians get rich, but vital development opportunities are easily squandered," said Laurance. "It's remarkable how many nations, investors, and lenders are failing to see the profound risks of road expansion in wet tropical environments, which are also the world's biologically richest ecosystems," said Laurance. ### For further information contact: William Laurance bill.laurance@jcu.edu.au (monitored continuously; Professor Laurance can do interviews via phone, skype, and email) Attached PDF Journal Science William F. Laurance and Irene Burgues Arrea. 2017. Roads to riches or ruin? Science (27 October). This is the furthest that any such device has ever reached It was previously theorized that ionosphere disturbances can only be detected for earthquakes which happened closer than 6,000 kilometers. KFU employees Kamil Yusupov and Adel Akchurin, together with Takashi Maruyama and Hiroyuki Shinagawa, published a paper titled Sensitivity of ionosonde detection of atmospheric disturbances induced by seismic Rayleigh waves at different latitudes in Earth, Planets and Space. The Cyclone ionosonde (creatied by Dr. Akchurin, Head of the Near Space Studies Lab of SAU AstroChallenge) can detect earthquakes at distances as big as 15,000 kilometers. The paper also states that earthquake signatures for mid-latitude KFU ionosonde can be up to 3 times more prominent than on a low-latitude ionosonde in Japan. The furthest earthquake detected by Cyclone was that in Chile on 27th February 2010. It was one of the strongest in the last 50 years, with a magnitude of 8.8. Over 500 people died in the disaster, and 220 thousand buildings were damaged or destroyed. Dr. Akchurin explains, "Ionospheric disturbances are caused by infrasound waves caused by seismic Rayleigh waves. The Chilean earthquake was so powerful that its seismic waves spread across 15,000 kilometers of the earth surface. Such disturbances have been studied before in Japan, but they have only been detected from as far as 6,000 kilometers. Thanks to this research with our Japanese colleagues, we found out that ionosondes' sensitivity to atmospheric disturbances in infrasound differs in various places of Earth. In Kazan this sensitivity is about 3 times that of Tokyo. The reason is the difference in geomagnetic inclination. It affects the ionosphere-atmosphere dynamical coupling and radio propagation of vertical incidence ionosonde sounding." Research of ionosphere has been ongoing at KFU since the 1980s. Dr. Akchurin's sonde is situated at the University's radio polygon and works in one-minute intervals. There is only one similar device in Finland. ### Russian researchers have developed a mechanism for detecting molecular hydrogen using green light to illuminate a nanocrystalline composite sensor based on zinc and indium oxides. For the first time, this enables a gas sensor operating at room temperature. The paper was published in the journal Scientific Reports. Multisensor arrays for determining gas mixture composition are currently being developed. These are monitoring systems incorporating multiple sensors that target individual gases. Such sensors can be used to analyze air quality both outdoors and in closed spaces. Tracking atmospheric pollution remains a vital concern for many developed countries. Because residential communities tend to cluster around industrial areas, it is necessary to have a mechanism in place for controlling harmful emissions from plants and factories. Besides that, air composition measurements are required at nuclear power plants, on submarines and space stations, and at other facilities where access to fresh air is not immediately available: If the concentration of carbon dioxide increases or a toxic substance leaks into the ventilation system, this might put the lives of personnel at risk. Commercial gas mixtures such as gas fuels also need precise composition monitoring. Among them is hydrogen. Used as gas fuel, it could conceivably replace hydrocarbons. It is a clean fuel that releases nothing but water vapor when burnt. In addition, the efficiency of burning hydrogen is 10 to 20 percent higher than that of hydrocarbons. Some car manufacturers have already started phasing in hydrogen seeing it as a fuel of the future. And yet the Hindenburg airship disaster is a sad reminder of how dangerous hydrogen can be. Until recently, gas sensors based on nanocrystalline metal oxides had operating temperatures between 300 and 500 degrees Celsius. This made them unsafe for the detection of explosive or combustible substances. Moreover, to maintain these high temperatures, a lot of power is required, making it impossible to embed such gas sensors into the circuit boards of portable devices. To solve this problem, Professor Leonid Trakhtenberg of MIPT; Pavel Kashkarov, director of the Institute of Nano-, Bio-, Information, Cognitive and Socio-Humanistic Science and Technology; Alexander Ilin and Pavel Forsh from Lomonosov Moscow State University; and their colleagues from Semenov Institute of Chemical Physics proposed sensors capable of operating at room temperature. Their new nanocomposite sensors are based on zinc and indium oxides, and their efficiency is maximized by green light illumination. The proposed device could be used to detect combustible, explosive, or poisonous substances in the atmosphere even at low concentrations. "The mechanism consists in the light-induced transition of the nanocrystalline sensor components into a nonequilibrium state and the resulting change in the photoconductivity of the sensor interacting with molecular hydrogen. This effect is linked with the dependence of photoconductivity on the nonequilibrium charge carrier recombination rate," explains Maria Ikim, a doctoral student at the Laboratory of Functional Nanocomposites of Semenov Institute of Chemical Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences. "The detectors that we have developed differ from the conventional semiconductor sensors in that they operate at room temperature. This eliminates the danger of combustion or explosion, when flammable or explosive substances are involved," says Leonid Trakhtenberg of the Department of Chemical Physics, MIPT, who holds an ScD in physics and mathematics. "Most papers on sensor photoactivation discuss the effects of ultraviolet light on sensors and focus on the detection of oxidizing gases. But the efficiency of ultraviolet light diodes is low, while their cost is far greater than that of their counterparts emitting in the visible part of the spectrum. By working with hydrogen, we explore the possibilities of the detection of reducing gases." The paper reported in this story proposes a novel mechanism of sensor response photoactivation, which is illustrated by the image above. It accounts for the transition of charge carriers into a nonequilibrium state. The process involved is universal: It can be used to interpret sensing results in both oxidizing and reducing gases. The sensors proposed by the authors could be used to monitor atmospheric air composition and analyze the chemical makeup of gases used in industrial processes. Although the study focuses on gases, the same sensors could be modified to target liquids. ### About 1 million miles away from the nearest eye surgeon, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope will be able to perfect its own vision while in orbit. Though the Webb telescope will focus on stars and galaxies approximately 13.5 billion light-years away, its sight goes through a similar process as you would if you underwent laser vision correction surgery to be able to focus on an object 10 feet across the room. In orbit at Earth's second Lagrange point (L2), far from the help of a terrestrial doctor, Webb will use its near-infrared camera (NIRCam) instrument to help align its primary mirror segments about 40 days after launch, once they have unfolded from their unaligned stowed position and cooled to their operating temperatures. Laser vision correction surgery reshapes the cornea of the eye to remove imperfections that cause vision problems like nearsightedness. The cornea is the surface of the eye; it helps focus rays of light on the retina at the back of the eye, and though it appears to be uniform and smooth, it can be misshapen and pockmarked with dents, dimples, and other imperfections that can affect a person's sight. The relative positioning of Webb's primary mirror segments after launch will be the equivalent of these corneal imperfections, and engineers on Earth will need to make corrections to the mirrors' positions to bring them into alignment, ensuring they will produce sharp, focused images. These corrections are made through a process called wavefront sensing and control, which aligns the mirrors to within tens of nanometers. During this process, a wavefront sensor (NIRCam in this case) measures any imperfections in the alignment of the mirror segments that prevent them from acting like a single, 6.5-meter (21.3-foot) mirror. An eye surgeon performing wavefront-guided laser vision correction surgery (a process that was improved by technology developed to shape Webb's mirrors) similarly measures and three-dimensionally maps any inconsistencies in the cornea. The system feeds this data to a laser, the surgeon customizes the procedure for the individual, and the laser then reshapes and resurfaces the cornea according to that procedure. Engineers on Earth will not use a laser to melt and reshape Webb's mirrors (feel free to give a sigh of relief); instead, they will use NIRCam to take images to determine how much they need to adjust each of the telescope's 18 primary mirror segments. They can adjust the mirror segments through extremely minute movements of each segment's seven actuators (tiny mechanical motors) -- in steps of about 1/10,000th the diameter of a human hair. The wavefront sensing and control process is broken into two parts -- coarse phasing and fine phasing. During coarse phasing, engineers point the telescope toward a bright star and use NIRCam to find any large offsets between the mirror segments (though "large" is relative, and in this case it means mere millimeters). NIRCam has a special filter wheel that can select, or filter, specific optical elements that are used during the coarse phasing process. While Webb looks at the bright star, grisms in the filter wheel will spread the white light of the star out on a detector. Grisms, also called grating prisms, are used to separate light of different wavelengths. To an observer, these different wavelengths appear as parallel line segments on a detector. "The light from each segment will interfere with adjacent segments, and if the segments are not aligned to better than a wavelength of light, that interference shows up like barber pole patterns," explained Lee Feinberg, optical telescope element manager for the Webb telescope at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. "The analysis of the barber pole patterns tell the engineers how to move the mirrors." During fine phasing, engineers will again focus the telescope on a bright star. This time, they will use NIRCam to take 18 out-of-focus images of that star -- one from each mirror segment. The engineers then use computer algorithms to determine the overall shape of the primary mirror from those individual images, and to determine how they must move the mirrors to align them. These algorithms were previously tested and verified on a 1/6th scale model of Webb's optics, and the real telescope experienced this process inside the cryogenic, airless environment of Chamber A at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. Engineers will go through multiple fine-phasing sessions until those 18 separate, out-of-focus images become a single, clear image. After the engineers align the primary mirror segments, they must align the secondary mirror to the primary, then align both the primary and secondary mirrors to the tertiary mirror and the science instruments. Though the engineers complete the initial alignment with NIRCam, Feinberg explained they also test the alignment with Webb's other instruments to ensure the telescope is aligned "over the full field." The entire alignment process is expected to take several months, and once Webb begins making observations, its mirrors will need to be checked every few days to ensure they are still aligned -- just as someone who underwent laser vision correction surgery will schedule regular eye doctor visits to make sure their vision is not degrading. The James Webb Space Telescope, the scientific complement to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, will be the premier space observatory of the next decade. Webb is an international project led by NASA with its partners, ESA (European Space Agency) and CSA (Canadian Space Agency). ### For more information about the Webb telescope visit: http://www.webb.nasa.gov or http://www.nasa.gov/webb Magdalena R. Osburn, a Northwestern University geobiologist who studies ancient and modern microbes, has been awarded a 2017 Packard Fellowship for Science and Engineering from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. The prestigious fellowship includes an unrestricted research grant of $875,000 over five years to pursue innovative and experimental research. The foundation named Osburn and 17 others as the nation's most innovative, early-career scientists and engineers. These young professors are tackling some of the critical scientific questions of our time and promise to have a big impact not just on their fields but also on the students working with them. Using a class of molecules called lipids, Osburn studies how microbes interact with their environments and what chemical signatures they produce. Osburn's work has led her to a number of extreme environments, including hot springs, mines, caves and lakes in Greenland. Learning more about how microbes inhabit such harsh environments will help scientists in the search for extraterrestrial life, such as on the subsurface of Mars. With her Packard Foundation funding, Osburn will study "microbial dark matter" -- microbes that have evaded cultivation in the lab, and thus scientific study, and are known only by their DNA sequences. Unknown microbes have the potential for producing new compounds with implications for medicine. "The opportunity to experiment is incredibly liberating and motivating," said Osburn, an assistant professor of Earth and planetary sciences in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. "The current funding environment is a challenging landscape where only the lowest-risk projects are viable. The Packard Foundation takes the opposite stance -- encouraging high-risk, high-reward projects." Osburn specifically will study microbes that live deep underground and make their living off of the surrounding geology. With sufficient environmental characterization and replication of certain microbial environments in the lab, Osburn hopes to be able to grow some of these mysterious organisms. "Microbes perform critical environmental roles without which humans would not survive on this planet," Osburn said. "We know there are lots of microbes down there, comprising far more carbon than is found in the biomass of the ocean. The challenge is that we know little about what they are up to and how they survive conditions that humans find extreme." Osburn is the 14th faculty member selected at Northwestern to receive a Packard Fellowship since the program was established in 1988. "The entire department congratulates Maggie, who joins a distinguished group of early career awardees in Earth and planetary sciences, including previous Packard Fellows Steven Jacobsen and Andrew Jacobson," said Bradley Sageman, department chair and professor of Earth and planetary sciences. "As a geobiologist, Maggie brings exciting new expertise to Northwestern. Her research on microbial dark matter will extend our knowledge of the interface between inorganic and organic systems, the mechanisms that facilitate natural elemental cycles, such as carbon, oxygen and iron, and the origin and early evolution of life," he said. The Packard Fellowships for Science and Engineering are among the nation's largest nongovernmental fellowships, designed to allow maximum flexibility in how the funding is used. David Packard, co-founder of the Hewlett-Packard Company, was the inspiration behind the program. Packard recognized the success of his company was derived in large measure from the research and development in university laboratories. ### Chironomids are also called non-biting midges or lake flies. Xiaolong Lin is a PhD candidate at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology's (NTNU) University Museum in Trondheim. He devotes almost all his time to investigating these flies. "Lake flies are my life while I'm in Trondheim," says Lin. His efforts have paid off with a new publication in Insect Systematics and Evolution. The chironomid family (Chironomidae) is big. The non-biting midges can be found more or less around the world, including Antarctica, where the midge Belgica antarctica is the only native insect known there. Norway has more than 600 described species, with a possible 15,000 species worldwide. Currently, 6000 different species have been described. Lin has discovered around 30 new species, but is working to describe more. "I like these midges because they don't bite," Lin says (half) jokingly. Likes the hunt Lin began studying chironomids when he started his master's degree in Tianjin, a big Chinese city of about 15 million near Beijing. "Back then, I only wanted a master's degree to get a job," said Lin, but the midges quickly turned into something more than that. Lin likes the hunt. He also likes to describe already known species in more detail, to find more features of the species and their relationships with other species. But he especially likes to discover entirely new species that haven't yet been described. "Discovering new species in relatively well-researched areas like Norway is especially fun," says Lin. "But it's also exciting to find related new species in my native China." Eight new species this time Lin recently defended his PhD dissertation at NTNU. Two of the eight new species he described in it are found in Norway. Describing the appearance, or morphology, of a species is always a basic part of the research, but it's not enough to distinguish all the chironomid species. Many of them look alike to the naked eye. "Luckily, I have good vision," quips Lin, who has spent just a few hours looking through microscopes. He collects the material himself, from Norway, China and Germany, but also receives material from South America, Canada and Africa. DNA barcoding But to confirm a new species, he has to use DNA barcoding. With an insect sample in front of you, you can compare parts of the genome with DNA from known species in a quality-assured database. Then you can see whether the species has already been identified, or at least if it is in the database. The name "DNA-barcoding" comes from the similarity between species-specific DNA strings and the barcodes scanned at the store. Species have unique barcodes just like the items you add to your shopping cart. Tanytarsus heberti As a sign of respect, Lin named one of the new species Tanytarsus heberti. The species is named after Paul Hebert, an expert on biodiversity and the actual inventor of DNA barcoding. He was in Trondheim for the Starmus Science Festival in the summer of 2017. Lin has personally met Hebert several times. "Since several of the new species were first discovered using DNA barcoding, it was natural to name one of them after Paul Hebert," said Lin. "An additional plus is that this species was found in Arctic Canada, where Hebert has spent a lot of time doing research." The species is only 2.5 millimeters long. It can be found in the Churchill and Wapusk National Parks in the province of Manitoba. The species differs from its closest relatives by its bright colour, small details in the male genitalia and of course a distinctive DNA barcode. Building a database in China Access to DNA barcoding is one of the main reasons Lin chose to come to Norway. The technology is also used in China, but not for chironomids in the past. "It's easy to find new species in this group," says Lin, but he doesn't mention the many long working hours that underlie the discoveries, even with the new technology. Lin is also helping to build a DNA barcode reference library of Chinese chironomids. DNA barcodes exist for 300-400 of the 1,000 or more species found there so far. "But we estimate that there are around 2000 chironomid species in China," Lin said. Significant contribution The NTNU University Museum is pleased with the work Lin has done. Researcher Elisabeth Stur and Professor Torbjrn Ekrem were Lin's PhD supervisors and co-authors. "Xiaolong Lin has done a really thorough and good survey of this group of chironomids. Not only does he describe new species in his dissertation, but he also analyses their evolutionary relationship and geographical distribution," Stur and Ekrem said of their protege. They believe his work contributes significantly to the knowledge of a species-rich and important insect group in nature. ### When and how the Guanches arrived to the Canary Islands have remained poorly understood, not least since they lacked boats and the knowledge of how to navigate the surrounding seas. In fact, when Europeans colonized the islands in the 15th century CE they discovered a culture that much resembled Late Stone Age (Neolithic) cultures from Europe and the Mediterranean. This has led to a great deal of speculation about their origins but no conclusive answer has yet been found. The ancient genetic data generated by the team have now resolved some of the outstanding questions. Dr Linus Girdland-Flink, who is based at Liverpool John Moores University's School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, and senior author of the study, comments: "Previous studies on the Guanches have relied on single genetic markers, such as mitochondrial DNA and Y-chromosomes. These markers often lack the analytical precision needed to resolve finer levels of population history. By sequencing autosomal DNA we have gained unique insights to the ancestry and origin of these populations." Dr Ricardo Rodriguez Varela, researcher at Stockholm University and lead author of the study, explains: "By generating the first autosomal genetic data from these populations we can conclusively demonstrate that the Guanches were most closely related to modern North Africans of Berber ancestry than to any other population we included for comparisons, supporting previous studies but adding more detail and nuance." Professor Tom Gillingwater, Head of Anatomy at the University of Edinburgh, said: "This study gives us a fascinating insight into this unique population and we're delighted to see our collections being used to make such an important contribution to research. It is thanks to our excellent curatorial team that we are able to give researchers from around the world access to our historic archives. We hope this will be the first of many exciting discoveries to come from the collections in our care." Importantly, the new study reveals that the Guanches carried a mixture of genetic ancestry. Professor Anders Gotherstrom, co-author and director of the ancient DNA laboratory at Stockholm University, explains these findings: "Our analyses show that a small portion of the genetic ancestry of the Guanches was derived from populations most closely related to European Stone Age farmers. Interestingly, this type of genetic ancestry was introduced to Europe from Anatolia with migrating farmers during the Neolithic expansion around 7,000 years ago. Other North African populations have varying proportions of this ancestry but it is not yet fully understood how and when it spread across North Africa." The team was also able to provide new insights to the genetic legacy of the Guanches in modern Canary Islanders. Dr. Torsten Gunther, co-author and researcher at Uppsala University, concludes: "Our analyses show that modern inhabitants of Gran Canaria inherited circa 16-31% of their genomic ancestry from the Guanches." ### More information: This work has been funded by Swedish Research Council grant no. 2013-1905. The article "Genomic analyses of pre-European conquest human remains from the Canary Islands reveal close affinity to modern North Africans" is published in Current Biology: http://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(17)31257-5 Contact: Dr. Ricardo Rodriguez Varela, Stockholm University, E-mail: ricardo.rodriguez.varela@arklab.su.se, Mobile: 46-0-728398662 Dr. Linus Girdland-Flink, Liverpool John Moores University, E-mail: linusflink@hotmail.com, Mobile: 44-0-7491335633 LJMU Media Contact: Clare Coombes c.n.coombes@ljmu.ac.uk press@ljmu.ac.uk 44-0-151-231-3369 Twitter @LJMUPress Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ljmumedia_team/ Additional pictures are available through Jen Middleton, University of Edinburgh: jen.middleton@ed.ac.uk Notes to Editors About Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU): Liverpool John Moores University is one of the largest, most dynamic and forward-thinking universities in the UK, with a vibrant community of 25,000 students from over 100 countries world-wide, 2,500 staff and 250 degree courses. It was named University of the Year at the Educate North Awards 2017. LJMU is celebrating its 25th anniversary of becoming a university throughout 2017/17 and has launched a new five-year vision built around four key 'pillars' to deliver excellence in education; impactful research and scholarship; enhanced civic and global engagement; and an outstanding student experience. https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/25 About Stockholm University: Stockholm University is located in one of Europe's most dynamic capital cities. The University has 34,000 students, 1,700 doctoral students and 5,000 staff. It is the home to the country's most substantial research within science and human science, as well as the home of a number of internationally prominent research environments. http://www.su.se PHOENIX and LOS ANGELES -- Oct. 26, 2017 -- Precision Medicine in oncology, where genetic testing is used to determine the best drugs to treat cancer patients, is not always so precise when applied to some of the world's more diverse populations, according to a study led by the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), an affiliate of City of Hope, and the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC). Precision Medicine in oncology is based upon identifying mutations that have turned normally healthy cells into tumor cells and where possible matching those to targeted therapies. There are two main approaches to identify those changes. Ideally, a patient's tumor, as well as normal tissue -- usually from a blood sample -- are sequenced to identify mutations specific to the tumor. However, collecting normal tissue is not always possible or feasible, thus tumor-only sequencing is an alternative. One is then left with trying to distinguish normal genetic variation from the actual tumor mutations. In general, population databases are used to filter out genetic changes that are inherited rather than specific to the tumor. Precision Medicine using this type of tumor-only approach, as a means of guiding therapeutic intervention, is more precise for those of European decent, and less precise for those whose ancestry is from Latin America, Africa and Asia, according to the study published online Oct. 19 in the scientific journal BMC Medical Genomics. In an effort to help identify those genetic variants that might cause cancer when normal tissue is not available, the TGen-USC team devised a genomic tool with the Harry Potter-ish name of LumosVar. While this tool represents a significant improvement for research purposes, even this technological advance is not of sufficient precision to determine which anti-cancer drugs to give individual patients. "The field of precision medicine isn't taking into account population differences. The approaches being used are imprecise when you look at very specific populations," said Dr. John Carpten, Director of the Institute of Translational Genomics at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, and one of the study's lead authors. The problem is multi-pronged: Most of the tens of thousands of individuals worldwide who have undergone whole-genome sequencing -- the spelling out of the nearly 3 billion chemical bases in their DNA -- are of European decent, biasing existing databases used to exclude false-positive variants. There is a need to sample more people from more diverse parts of the world. European ancestry turns out to be among the least diverse genetically, having the fewest genetic variants, especially individuals with roots in Scandinavia. Those whose ancestry is traced from less developed parts of the world -- areas that have experienced the most rapid population increases over recent millennia -- have the most genetic variants, with individuals originating from Bangladesh having among the world's most diverse genomes. Many hospitals collect tumor tissue for research purposes without collecting normal tissue for comparison. This is especially true in under-developed nations. Without these normal-cell samples, it is difficult to determine which mutations potentially cause cancer and which are simply benign variants in the human genome. "It is very difficult to identify a somatic, or potentially cancer-causing, variant when you don't have a germline, or normal, sample," said Dr. Rebecca Halperin, a TGen Assistant Research Professor and the study's other lead author. "It's even worse, depending on your ancestry. You get more false positives -- those genetic variants that don't cause cancer -- from populations with non-European ancestry." To assist researchers in sorting out false positives, TGen and USC researchers devised a computational tool called LumosVar, a Harry Potter reference to Lumos (light) in the story's magic spells, and Var for genetic variance. LumosVar is essentially a tool to light up the genome's potentially cancer-causing genetic mutations. "Simply sequencing more individuals from various populations is not enough. We really need access to the germlines. But when those aren't available, we need better tools and this is where we have put our focus," said Dr. David W. Craig, Vice Chair of the Keck School of Medicine of USC's Department of Translational Genomics and the study's senior author. Drs. Craig and Halperin are the co-creators of LumosVar. One surprising finding of the study involves the "out of Africa" theory of evolution; the fact that all modern humans across the globe can be genetically traced back to ancestors from Africa. Researchers assumed that because Africa was a starting point that those with African ancestry would be more genetically diverse, and those populations who spread elsewhere across the globe would, as descendants of more recent common ancestors, became less genetically diverse. Instead, rapid population expansion in Africa, as in South America and Asia, over millennia has been the driving force resulting in more genetically diverse individuals. "The added complexity of identifying inherited genetic changes surprised me and many others we have shared these findings with," said Dr. Craig, who also is a Professor and Co-Director of the Institute of Translational Genomics at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. "There is a growing body of knowledge on the shortfalls of Precision Medicine," said Dr. Rick Kittles, Professor and Founding Director of the Division of Health Equities, Department of Population Sciences, at City of Hope, and one of world's foremost scientists in the area of population genetics and cancer. "This study goes beyond the barriers to participation and provides insight on the lack of genetic data from diverse populations and its impact on the value and utility of Precision Medicine. There is still much work to be done in order for all communities to benefit from Precision Medicine," said Dr. Kittles, who was not part of the study, but was asked by the authors to provide perspective on the study's findings. The problem is not trivial or academic. Patients whose tumor-cell sequencing cannot be matched with their normal-cell sequencing, run the risk of being misdiagnosed, researchers said. "That means you might be getting the wrong therapy simply because of our lack of understanding of the genetic architecture based on one's ancestry," Dr. Craig said. "These findings argue that we're really not doing a very good job of doing Precision Medicine for many populations." Dr. Carpten added, "Tumor-only sequencing in patients from populations that have undergone rapid expansion significantly decreases the precision of Precision Medicine. Importantly, the greater impact will be on individuals from underrepresented communities." Even for those of European ancestry, the lack of normal-cell sequencing to compare to tumor-cell sequencing still poses substantial risk, the study says: "Even within a European ancestry cohort, there are many individuals who still will have a high number of private variants that would result in a higher number of false positives." Still, the study points to the LumosVar, which the TGen-USC team has offered as an open-source tool for any researcher to use, as a substantial improvement in searching for potentially cancer-causing mutations. "While the goal of the present study was to evaluate the benefit and limitations of leveraging allele frequencies to distinguish somatic and germline variants in unmatched tumor samples, in the process we have developed a tool that we have made available to the research community," the study says. "We have clearly demonstrated that LumosVar has improved positive predictive value in calling somatic variants compared to database filtering, which is the most commonly used approach with unmatched tumor samples," the study says. "When analyzing archival samples in a research setting, we believe LumosVar would be of great utility." The study -- titled: A method to reduce ancestry related germline false positives in tumor only somatic variant calling -- predicts that, as the cost of high-depth sequencing continues to decline, the sensitivity of tools like LumosVar will continue to improve. ### This study was funded by The Ben & Catherine Ivy Foundation and by the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. LumosVar is available for download at: https://github.com/tgen/LumosVar About TGen Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is a Phoenix, Arizona-based non-profit organization dedicated to conducting groundbreaking research with life changing results. TGen is focused on helping patients with neurological disorders, cancer, diabetes, and infectious diseases, through cutting edge translational research (the process of rapidly moving research towards patient benefit). TGen physicians and scientists work to unravel the genetic components of both common and rare complex diseases in adults and children. Working with collaborators in the scientific and medical communities literally worldwide, TGen makes a substantial contribution to help our patients through efficiency and effectiveness of the translational process. TGen is affiliated with City of Hope, a world-renowned independent research and cancer and diabetes treatment center: http://www.cityofhope.org. This precision medicine affiliation enables both institutes to complement each other in research and patient care, with City of Hope providing a significant clinical setting to advance scientific discoveries made by TGen. For more information, visit: http://www.tgen.org. Follow TGen on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter @TGen. About the Keck School of Medicine of USC Founded in 1885, the Keck School of Medicine of USC is among the nation's leaders in innovative patient care, scientific discovery, education and community service. The school has approximately 1,650 full-time faculty members and voluntary faculty of more than 2,400 physicians. These faculty direct the education of approximately 800 medical students and 1,000 students pursuing graduate and postgraduate degrees. The school trains more than 900 resident physicians in more than 50 specialty or subspecialty programs and is the largest educator of physicians practicing in Southern California. Together, the school's faculty and residents serve more than 1.5 million patients each year at Keck Hospital of USC and USC Norris Cancer Hospital, as well as USC-affiliated hospitals Children's Hospital Los Angeles and Los Angeles County + USC Medical Center. Keck School faculty also conduct research and teach at several research centers and institutes, including the Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute and the Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine at USC. In 2017, U.S. News & World Report ranked Keck School of Medicine among the top 35 medical schools in the country. Media Contacts: Steve Yozwiak TGen Senior Science Writer 602-343-8704 syozwiak@tgen.org Zen Vuong USC Health and Medical Research Writer 213-300-1381 zvuong@usc.edu About The Ben & Catherine Ivy Foundation The Ben & Catherine Ivy Foundation, based in Scottsdale, Ariz., was formed in 2005, when Ben Ivy lost his battle with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Since then, the Foundation has contributed more than $70 million to research in gliomas within the United States and Canada, with the goal of better diagnostics and treatments that offer long-term survival and a high quality of life for patients with brain tumors. The Ben & Catherine Ivy Foundation is the largest privately funded foundation of its kind in the United States. For more information, visit http://www.ivyfoundation.org. About the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) The mission of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) is to find a cure for multiple myeloma by relentless pursuing innovation that accelerates the development of next-generation treatments to extend the lives of patients. Founded in 1998 by Kathy Giusti, a multiple myeloma patient, and her twin sister Karen Andrews as a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization, the MMRF is a world-recognized leader in cancer research. Together with its partners, the MMRF has created the only end-to-end solution in precision medicine and the single largest genomic dataset in all cancers. The MMRF continues to disrupt the industry today, as a pioneer and leader at the helm of new research efforts. Since its inception, the organization has raised over $350 million and directs nearly 90% of the total funds to research and related programs. As a result, the MMRF has been awarded by Charity Navigator's coveted four-star rating for 12 years, the highest designation for outstanding fiscal responsibility and exceptional efficiency. CHAPEL HILL - While the immune system is critical for fighting off invading micro-organisms, sometimes it can turn against the body and attack healthy tissues or be involved in cancer cell growth. A study by University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers provides new details about the development of a particular immune cell that can play a role in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases as well as cancer. The researchers report in the journal Nature new details of what triggers the development of Th17, a CD4 helper T-cell. This type of cell sends out signals to draw additional help to the site of tumors or infection. The researchers hope their discovery could aid in the search for new treatments for autoimmune disorders and cancer. "As we discover these molecular mechanisms, we offer potential new molecular targets that could allow us to precisely target this lineage of immune cell to treat related diseases," said UNC Lineberger's Yisong Wan, PhD, associate professor in the UNC School of Medicine Department of Microbiology & Immunology. "This is a type of cell that is very important for autoimmune diseases, inflammation and cancer. How these cells are generated was not very clear." The researchers discovered how a complex interplay of signals that help to loosen DNA at a particular site, allowing the expression of a gene that's key to the development of the Th17 subtype. First, interleukin-6 signaling unravels the DNA at this key gene site. Then, in a new discovery, they found that Ski-Smad4, a molecular complex that usually squats on the DNA to prevent it from being read, must be released. They report that TGF-beta signaling releases Ski-Smad4. "We knew that interleukin-6 signaling reprograms a particular DNA site that makes the cell ready to express this gene, but you need another event - through this TGF-beta signaling -- to allow it be expressed," Wan said. He said that while interleukin-6 is like an accelerator to drive Th17 expression, Ski-Smad4 is like a brake that needs to be released. "If you have interleukin-6 signaling alone, you're pushing on the gas, but if the brake is still on, the car won't move," he said. "You need TGF-beta to release the brake so Th17 cell differentiation can move forward." Wan said their findings reveal a new signaling system that could be a potential drug target for a range of diseases. "We reveal an important mechanism underlying Th17 cell generation," Wan said. "Smad4 deficiency in T-cells has been associated with gastric cancers, and Th17 development." Jonathan Serody, MD, UNC Lineberger member and Elizabeth Thomas Professor in the UNC School of Medicine, said Th17 cells have also been found to play a role in reactions to stem cell or bone marrow transplantation from another donor. "The development of Th17 cells has been associated with tissue damage from donor immune cells after stem cell transplantation for malignant disease," Serody said. "We hope that understanding how these cells generate could open the door for research into targeted treatments to help us prevent transplant rejection." ### In addition to Wan, other authors include Song Zhang, Motoki Takaku, Liyun Zou, Ai-di Gu, Wei-chun Chou, Ge Zhang, Bing Wu, Qing Kong, Seddon Y. Thomas, Jonathan S. Serody, Xian Chen, Xiaojiang Xu, Paul A. Wade, Donald N. Cook, and Jenny P.Y. Ting. The study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, by the National Institutes of Health, the Intramural Research Program of the National Institute of Environmental Health Science, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and the Yang Family Biomedical Scholars Award. a For decades, the main message to keep the general population healthy was for everyone to get active. In fact, the World Health Organization laid out specific guidelines (150 minutes of cardiovascular exercise each week) on how much physical activity was required for people to maintain a healthy lifestyle. However, UBC Okanagan researcher Kathleen Martin Ginis says while the recommendations were well-meaning, a particular group of people was excluded. "These guidelines were never specifically tailored for people with spinal cord injuries (SCI)," Martin Ginis says. "Not only were people with SCI essentially excluded from the systematic review that came up with these specific physical activity guidelines, but the potential risks to the SCI population--including upper body over-use, skin breakdown, autonomic dysreflexia (sudden high blood pressure), and overheating--were not considered." Now, an international committee, led by Martin Ginis, has come up with exercise recommendations for the SCI population that will be presented at the International Spinal Cord Society Annual Scientific Meeting in Dublin, Ireland this week. "These guidelines represent an important step toward international harmonization of exercise guidelines for adults with SCI," says Martin Ginis. "At the same time, they are a clear foundation for developing exercise policies and programs for people with SCI around the world." It is recommended that to improve fitness, adults with SCI should engage in at least 20 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity aerobic exercise two times week and three sets of moderate strengthening exercise for each major functional muscle groups two times per week. To improve cardiometabolic health, at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity aerobic exercise is needed, three times per week. It's a specific dose, she adds, for a reason. Cardiometabolic illnesses--cardiovascular disease, diabetes and even obesity--are among the leading causes of death in adults with SCI and addressing cardiometabolic health is extremely valuable, she adds. "These exercise guidelines have been systematically developed," says Martin Ginis. "And we are now able to say, that this specific dose of exercise is safe and can have significant fitness and cardiometabolic health benefits for adults with spinal cord injury." To determine the exact prescription, the international team looked at more than 200 previously published studies; all of which examined the effects of exercise interventions (e.g., cardio, strength-training) on cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, bone health, body composition and cardiovascular risk factors for people with spinal cord injury. Stakeholder groups, people with SCI, and exercise scientists were also consulted. The study was partially funded by the Rick Hansen Institute, a Canadian-based not-for-profit organization that drives innovation in spinal cord injury research. Hansen, a three-time Paralympic gold medalist, says these guidelines will make a significant difference to the lives of many people. "The Rick Hansen Foundation created the RHI to support leading and applied research that would produce tangible results--that when applied--will improve lives of people with spinal cord injury," says Hansen. "By applying these guidelines, people with SCI can expect to reach closer to normal health outcomes and lead full and meaningful lives. I am very proud of the work produced by Dr Martin Ginis and her dedicated team." "Because people with SCI face tremendous physical, psychosocial and environmental barriers to physical activity, they are less active and more physically deconditioned than the general population or even individuals with other types of disabilities," Martin Ginis says. "Our goal is to improve fitness and cardiometabolic health and at the same time reduce morbidity to mortality rates." ### The research is published this week in the journal Spinal Cord. Other funders include Loughborough University, the UK Higher Education Institute, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Following a state law mandating testing, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued more alerts for lead in candy than for the other top three sources of food-borne contamination combined, according to the first analysis of outcomes of the 2006 law by researchers at UC San Francisco and CDPH. For many years, the state health department's Food and Drug Branch has routinely prepared and disseminated health alerts to regional and county public health programs, practicing community clinicians, and the general public warning of potentially toxic food exposures. But until the 2006 law mandated a surveillance program, the CDPH did not test widely for lead in candy. The new study shows that in the six years before the law went into effect--from 2001 to 2006--just 22 percent of the alerts about food contamination involved lead in candy. Once the program was implemented, however, 42 percent of the food contamination alerts issued by state health officials were for lead in candy--nearly all of it imported--which was more than the total for Salmonella, E. coli and botulism, according to an analysis of alerts issued between 2001 and 2014. The study was published Oct. 26, 2017 in Environmental Health Perspectives. Lead is a toxic heavy metal that can cause developmental delays, neurological damage, hearing loss, and other serious health problems in young children and adults. The study found that active community monitoring can identify lead in food products such as candy, so they can be recalled before too many people have eaten them. Without such testing, health investigators must wait until after children have been poisoned to look for the sources, which is especially difficult when the source is as perishable as candy. "With this policy change identifying lead sources is more upstream and community-based," said Margaret Handley, PhD, MPH, a professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at UCSF and the first author of the study. "By testing candy and issuing alerts when foods are found to be contaminated, we can identify and remove sources of lead before children become poisoned." As many as 10,000 California children under the age of six are poisoned by lead each year, and 1,000 of them are exposed to very high levels of the toxic metal. Most efforts to reduce exposure focus on the lead found in gasoline and industrially contaminated soil, as well as lead-based paint, which children take in when they eat paint chips or breathe in dust. But after several high-profile poisoning cases, the California legislature passed a law requiring the state health department's Food and Drug Branch to increase surveillance of lead in candy and to issue health alerts when levels were high. Over the 14-year study period, state public health officials issued 164 health alerts for food contamination. Of these, 60 were lead-related and 55 of those were for imported food, mostly candy from Mexico (34 percent), China (24 percent), and India (20 percent). Two alerts were issued for imported foods that were not candy: one for a toasted grasshopper snack called chapuline, the other for spices. To get an in-depth look at how well the testing program was working, the study analyzed data for the years 2011-2012 and found that state officials had tested 1,346 candies. Of these, 65 different products were found to contain lead, and 40 of those exceeded the federal limits for children of 100 parts per billion. These candies came from a more diverse set of countries than the overall 2001 to 2014 sample. Just over a third (35 percent) came from India. The others came from Taiwan (12 percent), China (11 percent), the United States (11 percent), Mexico (9 percent), Pakistan (6 percent), Hong Kong (4 percent), the United Kingdom (3 percent), and one sample each from Germany, Indonesia, Thailand, Turkey, and Spain. Since the candy testing program is not comprehensive the researchers said the true number of contaminated candies and other foods on the market could be even higher. "As more lead sources are identified we must develop prevention approaches for all of them, and not just replace one prevention approach with another," Handley said. "If there is anything we have learned from the lead poisoning disaster in Flint, Michigan, it is not to oversimplify or cut corners when it comes to identifying and removing sources of lead poisoning." ### Other authors include Kalie Nelson, Eric Sanford MD, Cassidy Clarity, Sophia Emmons-Bell, Anuhandra Gorukanti, MD, all affiliated with UCSF; and Patrick Kennelly PhD, of CDPH. About UCSF: UC San Francisco (UCSF) is a leading university dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care. It includes top-ranked graduate schools of dentistry, medicine, nursing and pharmacy; a graduate division with nationally renowned programs in basic, biomedical, translational and population sciences; and a preeminent biomedical research enterprise. It also includes UCSF Health, which comprises top-ranked hospitals, UCSF Medical Center and UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals in San Francisco and Oakland - and other partner and affiliated hospitals and healthcare providers throughout the Bay Area. Please visit http://www.ucsf.edu/news. Follow UCSF ucsf.edu | Facebook.com/ucsf | Twitter.com/ucsf | YouTube.com/ucsf In a book from the University of Kent's Dr Kelli Rudolph, the ancient origins of modern tastes are explored for the first time In a book from the University of Kent's Dr Kelli Rudolph, the ancient origins of modern tastes are explored for the first time. Like today, ancient food fads came with dire warnings about the consequences of new arrivals on the scene. For example, when Sicilian sweets were introduced to Greece, some regarded them as a delicious luxury while others - such as Plato - said they would destroy the morality of the people. From battlefields and imperial courts to sanctuaries and boudoirs, tasting is a dangerous game in antiquity. In Taste and the Ancient Senses (Routledge), Dr Rudolph and her fellow contributors explore Greek and Roman texts and archaeological remains to discover how tastes also differed from our experience today. Even in antiquity, food was tasted first with the eyes, so presentation was a crucial element of luxury cuisine: daring presentations included a fish which, because it changes colour as it dies, was killed in front of diners before being taken away to a chef to be cooked. As people do today, the ancient Greeks and Romans resisted changes in their national palate. The Roman naturalist and philosopher, Pliny the Elder wrote about how silly it was that people would pay to put pepper on their food, since it only tasted of heat. Yet within years it was common for everyone, even in far-flung provinces like Roman Britain, as it is now. Some food crazes in antiquity, like the new 'super-food' apricots, stood the test of time, but others were a flop, as with the attempt by ancient gourmands to introduce donkey foetuses to the Roman table. Another taste legacy the book explores is the importance placed on the provenance of food. Where food and wine came from and how it was grown and raised was thought to influence its taste - and its price. Ancient gourmands took particular notice of what food animals had eaten; acorn-fed pork was considered tastiest. Remnants of pottery reveal flavours of stews and grains, and bone analysis can even identify favoured cuts of meat. In addition to exploring the importance of taste in society, the book also looks at taste as a diagnostic tool in medicine and at how religious differences influenced changes in taste through different eras. Taste and the Ancient Senses is part of a series of books on the senses in antiquity. ### Dr Rudolph is a lecturer in Classics and Philosophy in Kent's School of European Culture and Languages. https://www.routledge.com/Taste-and-the-Ancient-Senses/Rudolph/p/book/9781844658695 Doctors are developing a more personalised approach to the treatment of bowel cancer, thanks to research which has found a way of screening tumours for their susceptibility to drug therapy. Delivering 'customised care' is important because every cancer is different - so may respond differently to treatment. The cancer drug panitumumab is one option for patients with advanced bowel cancer, and doctors already use a genetic test called RAS to select patients who may be helped by it. But even using the RAS test, although panitumumab can control symptoms and extend life for some patients, for others it is ineffective and may cause unpleasant side-effects. The problem is that currently doctors do not know in advance who is going to benefit and who is not. Now researchers at the University of Leeds, collaborating with scientists at Duke University in North Carolina in the USA, have identified a protein called HER3 in tumours which could help predict if treatment with the drug will be effective. They have found that a patient whose cancer has a high level of HER3 are likely to benefit from the drug. On the other hand, a patient whose cancer lacks the protein may get no benefit and still suffer the drug's side-effects. Writing in the journal JAMA Oncology, the researchers report that patients with a raised level of HER3 saw their tumour shrink or stabilise for - on average - an extra four months if treated with panitumumab. In patients with low HER3 levels, panitumumab had no effect. Last year, the same research team published a paper reporting that the presence of other proteins, called ligands, can also help predict who will benefit from panitumumab. An analysis in the current paper combined information from both HER3 and ligands, and showed that panitumumab performs best in the 20% of patients whose cancers have high levels of both these markers. Dr Jenny Seligmann, a CRUK Clinical Trials Fellow at the University of Leeds, lead author of the paper said: "HER3 appears to be a helpful test - in about half the patients who might otherwise receive panitumumab it shows that the drug would be ineffective or even harmful, and these patients could instead be offered another treatment option. "And if we combine both indicators - HER3 and ligands - we can identify the 20 per cent of patients for whom panitumumab is the most effective in prolonging cancer control, making it a compelling treatment choice for them". The study used tumour samples donated for research by 308 patients from all over the UK who, between 2006 and 2010, took part in a trial testing the addition of panitumumab to their cancer treatment. The team was able to see how patients had responded to the drug and then went back and tested their stored tumour samples for levels of the ligands and HER3 proteins. Professor Matt Seymour, who led the research team, said: "These findings are important in that we are now closer to developing a test to identify patients for whom panitumumab is a powerful and effective therapy. "We are hugely grateful to the patients who participated in the trial and gave permission for us to use their cancer samples to perform this research. "More work still needs to be done before the test can be offered to patients routinely. We need to confirm our results in other trials, and to work out how best to test for these proteins rapidly and reliably, so that doctors can be advised whether to offer the drug." The research was funded by Cancer Research UK. The research adds to the growing picture of the importance of personalised medicine in cancer care. Through a clearer understanding of some of the biochemical mechanisms involved in an individual's cancer, doctors are better able to target various therapies. Bowel cancer is the fourth most common form of cancer and around 110 new cases are diagnosed every day in the UK, according to statistics from Cancer Research UK. Advanced bowel cancer is seen when the disease spreads from the bowel to another part of the body. At this stage the disease cannot be stopped but successful treatment can slow its progress. ### Notes to Editors For further information please contact David Lewis in the University press office on 0113 343 8059 or by email d.lewis@leeds.ac.uk University of Leeds The University of Leeds is one of the largest higher education institutions in the UK, with more than 33,000 students from more than 150 different countries, and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. We are a top ten university for research and impact power in the UK, according to the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, and are in the top 100 for academic reputation in the QS World University Rankings 2018. Additionally, the University was awarded a Gold rating by the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework in 2017, recognising its 'consistently outstanding' teaching and learning provision. Twenty-four of our academics have been awarded National Teaching Fellowships - more than any other institution in England, Northern Ireland and Wales - reflecting the excellence of our teaching. http://www.leeds.ac.uk Follow University of Leeds or tag us in to coverage Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Instagram A collaboration between UK, Canadian and Chinese scientists has helped to reduce the over-prescription of unneeded antibiotics to children in rural China, according to research published today in Lancet Global Health. Children in some areas of the country are being given antibiotics, often intravenously, to treat a cold, ear or throat infections, but the drugs are not effective against virus based illnesses. The inappropriate use of antibiotics is a major risk factor in the development of drug-resistant 'superbugs'. A project designed by the scientists to curb the prescribing of antibiotics for children with upper respiratory tract infections saw antibiotic use drop by half. The collaboration brought together rural hospitals in two counties in rural China, Chinese health officials and academics at the University of Leeds and University of Toronto. The aim was to devise and evaluate a system of 'anti-microbial stewardship' that could be used in other parts of the Chinese health system and would give doctors the confidence to say 'no' to requests for inappropriate antibiotic treatment. The stewardship programme was rolled out to a group of primary care rural hospitals in in Guangxi province in Southern China. A lot of demand for antibiotics in the Chinese primary care sector comes from parents and grandparents who have children with upper respiratory tract infections such as a sore throat or ear ache. Children often receive the antibiotics through an intravenous drip (see images). But colds, most sore throats and ear infections are caused by viruses and not bacteria, and antibiotic treatment is unnecessary and ineffective. John Walley, Professor of International Public Health at the University of Leeds, said: "Doctors working in the primary care hospitals come under considerable pressure from parents to prescribe antibiotics to children who have upper respiratory tract infections. "They can feel that if they don't give the antibiotic, the parents will just go elsewhere and get it. "These are difficult decisions for the doctor. They may have a very ill child in front of them - and they do not have a battery of tests results to rely on. They are having to make a clinical judgement about the risks involved in not giving antibiotics." University academics and Chinese experts drew up clinical guidelines based on those produced by the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence - to help doctors decide when it would be appropriate to prescribe antibiotics and alert them to the warning signs of more serious illness. Two groups of primary-care hospitals in Guangxi were selected for the evaluation. Baseline measures were made of prescribing practices for children attending with upper respiratory tract infections. In the first group - containing 12 hospitals - doctors received training in how to explain to parents why antibiotics are not necessary. Medical managers also conducted monthly prescription reviews, to monitor doctors' compliance with the guidelines. In the second group - made up of 13 hospitals - medical staff continued to prescribe in the usual way. Six months later, several thousand prescriptions were selected at random from the two groups and compared with the baseline findings. The results showed that in the group that had received stewardship training, the antibiotic prescription rate had dropped from 82 per cent to 40 per cent. In the business-as-usual group, the rate went from 75 per cent to 70 per cent. Taking account of statistical issues, the researchers say the training resulted in a 48 per cent reduction in the prescribing rate of antibiotics for children with upper respiratory tract infections. Professor Walley said: "There have been other approaches that have tried to change the behaviour of doctors and patients - but none has delivered the scale of changes that we have seen." Typically in successful trials the change is between five and 25 per cent. The Chinese Health Ministry has policies to reduce antibiotic use but the challenge is to get that aim delivered in primary care clinics and hospitals, Professor Walley said. He said the key to success was to 'embed' work within national policies and the health system, giving doctors the skills and encouragement to give antibiotics when there is a real clinical need. The problem of the overuse of antibiotics exists in many low and middle income countries, and existed in the UK - although healthcare policies in recent decades have resulted in more careful use of antibiotics. ### Notes to Editors For more information, please contact David Lewis in the press office on d.lewis@leeds.ac.uk or by phone - 0113 343 8059 When the embargo lifts, the paper will be available here: http://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(17)30383-2/fulltext?elsca1=tlxpr The project was organised and run by the Communicable Disease Health Service Delivery Group (COMDIS) at the University of Leeds, http://comdis-hsd.leeds.ac.uk/. Images showing the prevalence of antibiotic use in some clinics in rural China are available here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B691WmQZab8LVU14cmFmMkt6blU). University of Leeds The University of Leeds is one of the largest higher education institutions in the UK, with more than 33,000 students from more than 150 different countries, and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. We are a top ten university for research and impact power in the UK, according to the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, and are in the top 100 for academic reputation in the QS World University Rankings 2018. Additionally, the University was awarded a Gold rating by the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework in 2017, recognising its 'consistently outstanding' teaching and learning provision. Twenty-four of our academics have been awarded National Teaching Fellowships - more than any other institution in England, Northern Ireland and Wales - reflecting the excellence of our teaching. http://www.leeds.ac.uk Follow University of Leeds or tag us in to coverage Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Instagram COLUMBIA, Mo. - Though their time in active service may be done, many American veterans are finding new ways to serve their country from home. Douglas Wilbur, a retired major in the U.S. Army and a doctoral student in the School of Journalism at the University of Missouri, is continuing the fight against ISIS by studying the Islamic militant organization's propaganda texts and communication strategies. His work could help the military in the fight against terrorism. In his article, Wilbur argues that ISIS propaganda is a form of strategic communication and that analyzing their materials through a neo-institutional framework (a theory that examines how a group's cultural norms and rules guide their choices,) can help researchers and military better investigate extreme propagandists' techniques and develop ways to combat them. Though most Americans do not have the background knowledge needed to read ISIS propaganda, Wilbur's time serving in Iraq helped him decipher the text. Wilbur says successfully analyzing ISIS propaganda can reveal the organization's goals, and then experts can work to combat them. "Propaganda isn't just one guy putting together a magazine or a pamphlet; it's a form of strategic communication, which means the organization is very deliberate about it," Wilbur said. "Propaganda often is developed to support the goals of the organization at the time." As an information operations officer in the Army, Wilbur frequently encountered ISIS propaganda and was well-informed of their methods and tactics. Based on his experience in the Army, Wilbur wanted to perform a serious analysis of ISIS propaganda using scholarly scientific methods that he acquired through higher education. "In the military, I was engaged in anti-propaganda efforts, but I wasn't doing it from a scientific perspective," Wilbur said. "So when I came to Mizzou, I came to become a social scientist. We learned the scientific method and how to apply it, and now I have better methods of analysis. The skills I learned at Mizzou are helping me fight ISIS." Currently, Wilbur is working on pieces about contingency theory, which states that the best action for an organization depends on the situation; he has plans to pursue the link between propaganda and strategic communication in his dissertation. Wilbur also is an alumnus of Missouri Governor Eric Greitens' program, 'The Mission Continues,' which empowers veterans adjusting to life at home to find purpose through community service. ### Wilbur's study, "Propaganda's Place in Strategic Communication: The Case of ISIL's Dabiq Magazine," was published in the International Journal of Strategic Communication and has received more than 300 views on Research Gate, a networking site for scientists and researchers to share their work. PHILADELPHIA --Congenital heart valve defects appear in 2 percent of all live births, making them the most common type of birth defect. While some of these defects have been linked to specific genetic mutations, the majority have no clearly definable genetic cause, suggesting that epigenetic factors - changes in gene expression versus an alteration in the genetic code -- play an important role. Now researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania have found that the force, or shear, of blood flow against the cells lining the early heart valve sends signals for heart "cushion" cells to become fully formed valves. Their findings are published in Developmental Cell. Heart valves ensure that the beating heart drives blood flow in one direction. As the heart beats continuously over a lifetime, valve function must be flawless. Obstruction of forward flow or backward flow due to a defective valve can result in heart failure. Most serious valve defects are treated surgically, with the original valve able to be repaired and other times it must be replaced. However, in general valve replacements are held off in growing children for as long as possible to avoid outgrowing a valve replaced too early. Embryonic heart valves develop as large cushions that, during development, reshape and thin to form mature valve leaflets. "The maturation of these big fluffy cushions into the perfectly fitting leaflets of a mature heart valve is an architectural marvel," said senior author Mark Kahn, MD, a professor of Cardiovascular Medicine. "We showed that shear-responsive KLF2-Wnt protein signaling is the basis of this remodeling." Lauren Goddard, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher in the Kahn Lab, found that the protein KLF2 was expressed by the shear-sensing cells that line the primitive valve cushions. KLF2's expression was highest in the regions of the valve that experience the strongest shear forces. Using mouse models, she found that deletion of KLF2 in these cells resulted in large cushions that failed to mature properly. Profiling of the genes expressed by early cardiac cushion cells revealed that loss of KLF2 resulted in a significant decrease in the expression of the Wnt binding partner, WNT9B, a molecule important in the valve maturation communication path. Loss of WNT9B in the mouse resulted in defective valve remodeling similar to what happens when KLF2 is deleted, suggesting it is a key downstream target of KLF2. Work done by co-author Julien Vermot from the Agence Nationale de la Recherche, an expert in how shear forces determine zebrafish development, demonstrated that expression of the gene for WNT9B is restricted to the cells that govern developing heart valves and is dependent on the shear force of early blood flow. These findings were instrumental in linking shear forces to KLF2-WNT9B signaling during valve remodeling. This work is the first to demonstrate how blood flow shapes developing heart valves into mature valve leaflets. These studies, say the researchers, predict that even a minor breakdown in the series of precisely orchestrated cell-cell communications required to accurately pass on signals from blood flow may result in subtly defective valves. This idea supports an epigenetic explanation for common congenital valve defects. ### The research was supported by the National Institutes of Health (R01HL094326, T32HL007954, R0111770, R01116997), the Agence Nationale de la Recherche, and the European Research Council. PHILADELPHIA -- Screening for tumor cells in the fallopian tubes of women at high-risk for ovarian cancer may help detect the cancer years before it develops further, suggests a new study co-led by researchers at Penn Medicine and published online this week in Nature Communications. Work from Ronny Drapkin, MD, PhD, an associate professor of Pathology in Obstetrics & Gynecology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and director of gynecologic cancer research at the Basser Center for BRCA at the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania, and others, has shown through human tumor studies and animal models that ovarian cancer can start in the fallopian tubes and secondarily move to the ovaries where it is clinically diagnosed. However, it was not clear how and when these cancers developed, or how to best detect them before they progressed to the ovaries. The new study traces the origins of high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC), the most frequent type of ovarian cancer that is often diagnosed at advanced stages, back to fallopian tube lesions known as 'p53 signatures' and serous tubal intraepithelial carcinomas (STICs) that harbor the TP53 gene mutations. On average, the timing of the progression from the STICs to ovarian cancer in the five patients analyzed was 6.5 years, with the cancer spreading to other areas quickly thereafter. The same TP53 gene mutations showed up in both the tube lesions and ovarian tumors of the women, all of whom also carried other high-risk mutations, such as BRCA or PTEN. "These data provide much-needed insights into the etiology of ovarian cancer and have important implications for prevention, early detection and therapeutic intervention of the disease," said Drapkin, who also serves as director of the Penn Ovarian Cancer Research Center. "It points us to a signature in the tubes to look for, and shows us a window of time to spot these cancers before they morph into something more sinister in the ovaries." Drapkin conducted early portions of the study while at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Victor E. Velculescu, MD, PhD, of Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, served as co-senior author. The researchers performed next-generation sequencing on 37 samples taken from five patients' STIC lesions, fallopian tube carcinomas, and ovarian cancers. Samples were also taken from metastases in the appendix, abdomen, and rectum in three patients. In addition, the team further analyzed isolated STIC lesions from four patients, three of whom had BRCA mutations and had their ovaries and tubes removed prophylactically. The fourth had her ovaries and tubes removed and a hysterectomy in the context of a pelvic mass surgery. The researchers identified sequence changes in the TP53 tumor suppressor gene, a well-known driver gene in HGSOC, in all the patients. Those alterations were identical in all the samples from the same patient, including in the p53 (a tumor protein) signatures, the STIC lesions, and other carcinomas, suggesting that mutation of TP53 was among the earliest initiating events for HGSOC development, the authors said. To recreate the timeline of the tumors, researchers used a mathematical model that estimates the interval between a "founder" cell of a tumor and the ancestral precursor cell in the lesions, using the mutation rates and cell division times observed in each patient. In one patient, the time between STICs and ovarian cancer was two years. For the four remaining patients, the time was, on average, 6.5 years. Importantly, in patients with metastatic lesions, the time between the initiation of ovarian cancer and development of metastases was rapid, with an average of two years, the researchers reported. The study further supports the concepts behind the recommendation for BRCA carriers and non-carriers to remove the fallopian tubes, rather than the ovaries - which may significantly reduce their risk, as it eliminates the underlying cellular precursors of ovarian cancer, and that preservation of the ovaries provides long-term benefits, particularly for younger women. These insights also open the prospect of new approaches for screening, which is especially important, given the limited therapeutic options currently available for ovarian cancer. For example, recent advances in detecting mutations in liquid biopsies, pap smears, and other bodily fluids and imaging approaches may provide opportunities in early diagnosis and intervention, the authors wrote. "These results represent an important step forward that helps fills a knowledge gap on the evolution of this cancer," Drapkin said. "More studies with a larger cohort of patients are needed to better understand these lesions and the progression into ovarian cancer, but this latest one suggests that examination of the fallopian tubes should become common practice in pathology, and not confined to just academic centers." ### Lauren Schwartz, MD, an assistant professor of Clinical Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Penn Medicine, co-authored the study. The study was supported by the Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson Medical Research Foundation, Commonwealth Foundation, National Institutes of Health (CA121113, CA006973, CA083636, CA152990, CA200469) a Department of Defense grant, the Honorable Tina Brozman Foundation for Ovarian Cancer Research, the SU2C-DCS International Translational Cancer Research Dream Team Grant, the Foundation for Women's Wellness, and the Richard W. TeLinde Gynecologic Pathology Laboratory Endowment. Drapkin received start-up funding for the study from the Basser Center for BRCA. Penn Medicine is one of the world's leading academic medical centers, dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, and excellence in patient care. Penn Medicine consists of the Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (founded in 1765 as the nation's first medical school) and the University of Pennsylvania Health System, which together form a $6.7 billion enterprise. The Perelman School of Medicine has been ranked among the top five medical schools in the United States for the past 20 years, according to U.S. News & World Report's survey of research-oriented medical schools. The School is consistently among the nation's top recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health, with $392 million awarded in the 2016 fiscal year. The University of Pennsylvania Health System's patient care facilities include: The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center -- which are recognized as one of the nation's top "Honor Roll" hospitals by U.S. News & World Report -- Chester County Hospital; Lancaster General Health; Penn Wissahickon Hospice; and Pennsylvania Hospital -- the nation's first hospital, founded in 1751. Additional affiliated inpatient care facilities and services throughout the Philadelphia region include Good Shepherd Penn Partners, a partnership between Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network and Penn Medicine. Penn Medicine is committed to improving lives and health through a variety of community-based programs and activities. In fiscal year 2016, Penn Medicine provided $393 million to benefit our community. When Eleanor the sea turtle was caught in a tropical storm off the coast of Florida, she coped surprisingly well. In fact, she hardly needed to use any extra energy during the four days the storm raged - and neither was she injured. As the seas get warmer, the Earth suffers the ravages of ever more powerful storms and hurricanes, with massive consequences for both humans and animals. One of the concerns is marine animals, especially endangered species, such as certain whales, manatees, sharks, sea turtles, etc. A joint Danish/American/Australian team of researchers has discovered that severe weather is not necessarily harmful to individual adult sea turtles. The team was in the process of monitoring sea turtles fitted with GPS transmitters and motion sensors off Sarasota in the USA, when one of the sea turtles was unexpectedly caught in a tropical storm. This provided the team with a unique opportunity to see how a sea turtle would cope with a storm. "We were delighted to find that she rode out the storm in style without any problem," says Maria Wilson, a biologist at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU). The study was conducted in 2012 involving colleagues from Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, Sarasota in Florida, Department of Parks and Wildlife, Marine Science Program in Australia and Aarhus University in Denmark. A scientific article has now been published in the Journal of Experimental Biology. "We know little about how sea turtles manage during hurricanes and tropical storms. Storms could blow sea turtles off course, or surviving a storm could be so exhausting that it drains energy reserves and thus the ability to survive and produce eggs, thereby having a negative impact on the next generation of sea turtles," explains Wilson. The tagged sea turtle caught in the storm is named Eleanor. She was at sea in the Mexican Gulf in the egg-laying season when she was hit be the storm. Consequently, she had already nested on one of Florida's beaches and had returned to the sea to replenish her energy reserves before coming back to lay more. Eleanor was caught in tropical storm Debby, which passed through the Mexican Gulf between 23rd and 27th June 2012. Debby caused extensive flooding in Florida, reaching wind speeds of up to 100 kph. Eleanor was tagged for 16 days, four of which were during the storm. Data from the GPS and animal motion tags showed that she drastically changed behaviour when the storm struck. Before the storm, she rested on the seabed, moving only to go to the surface for air. When the storm struck, she moved further north than expected. According to the researchers, she was forced by prevailing currents. She also changed her diving patterns, becoming much more active instead of saving energy for the next egg-laying event. "Even though Eleanor swam for most of the four days the storm raged, she was good at saving energy, ending up actually using no more than she would normally use to produce 12 eggs. Given that sea turtles lay somewhere between 300 and 900 eggs during a nesting season, that's not much. But another fantastic element of Eleanor's story is that, despite the storm pushing her more than 100 km north of 'her' beach, she swam south when it passed and made her nest just 75 metres from her last one - although with a few days' delay," adds Wilson. The researchers calculated Eleanor's energy consumption based on motion sensors (3D accelerometers and gyroscopes), which detected when she was swimming. How much energy a swimming sea turtle uses had been determined from earlier experiments in the laboratory, making it possible to estimate how much energy they use sea. Even though it would seem that sea turtles are sufficiently robust to avoid being at the mercy of storms, such a powerful storm can still be a major threat to them. "Sea turtles lay their eggs on the beach, and their nests are extremely vulnerable to passing storms. The storm that Eleanor easily survived destroyed almost 90% of nests on the beach where she and several hundred other female turtles had laid their eggs." That's why Maria Wilson urges more focus on protecting nests and helping newly hatched turtles and less on adults, when the discussion turns to protecting sea turtles. ### A team of Japanese and US scientists report a new microdevice that prepares axon fascicles in the lab like those seen in the brain. Axons are the structures through which neurons transmit information to other cells. In the body, they aggregate to form fascicles. Several technologies allow scientists to generate and study single axons in the lab, but none are effective at creating nerve fascicles. A collaboration between researchers in Japan and the United States has led to a new microdevice that successfully forms fascicles in the lab. The report, which can be read in Stem Cell Reports, is expected to provide important insights on brain development and disease. "We know that growing axons form fascicles, but we do not know how fascicles form," says Yoshiho Ikeuchi, a lecturer at the Institute of Industrial Science at the University of Tokyo and senior author of the study. Many scientists have examined axon development and degeneration in two-dimensional (2D) systems. However, it is becoming increasingly apparent that the fascicle's 3D structure has an essential role in axon function. Because fascicles are disrupted in many neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS, the research group theorized that understanding their formation could give clues on the prevention of a number of diseases. To form axon fascicles, the research teams manufactured a microdevice in which human neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells were injected. What allowed for the formation of the fascicles was the preparation of neural spheroids and a channel narrow enough to align axons, which let them bind to each other. Spheroids were placed inside the chamber of the device. Axons grew from these spheroids, with some entering the microchannel. Upon this entry, other axons would spontaneously follow, leading to the formation of fascicles that showed properties consistent with those seen in brains. What molecular signaling caused the spontaneous entry remains unexplained, but fascicles were detected in more than 90% of experiments, convincing the researchers the value of the microdevice design. "The device gives us a means to investigate which factors are responsible for the fascicle assembly," says Ikeuchi. Accordingly, they simulated neurodegenerative conditions by introducing into the channels peroxide, and the fascicles responded with morphological changes. These findings and the relative ease of the experiments suggest the microdevice will be applicable to testing experimental drug compounds that prevent fascicle degeneration caused by disease. ### The article, "Generation of a Motor Nerve Organoid with Human Stem Cell-Derived Neurons" was published in Stem Cell Reports at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.stemcr.2017.09.021. Links: Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo Ikeuchi Lab Research contact: Yoshiho Ikeuchi, PhD, LecturerInstitute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo4-6-1 KomabaMeguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8505JapanTel: 81-3-5452-6330 Press officer contact: Megumi IjichiPublic Relations OfficeInstitute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo4-6-1 KomabaMeguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8505JapanTel: 81-3-5452-6738Fax: 81-3-5452-6746 About the University of Tokyo: The University of Tokyo is Japan's leading university and one of the world's top research universities. The vast research output of some 6,000 researchers is published in the world's top journals across the arts and sciences. Our vibrant student body of around 15,000 undergraduate and 15,000 graduate students includes over 2,000 international students. Find out more at http://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/ or follow us on Twitter at @UTokyo_News_en. October 26, 2017 - For younger patients with severe damage to the rotator cuff muscles, a "reverse" shoulder replacement provides lasting improvement in shoulder function, according to a study in The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. The journal is published in partnership with Wolters Kluwer. "In the absence of treatment alternatives, reverse total shoulder arthroplasty [RTSA] is a justifiable treatment for patients with a massive, irreparable rotator cuff tear before the age of 60," according to the report by Christian Gerber, MD, of the University of Zurich and colleagues. Despite a substantial risk of complications, most patients are satisfied with the outcomes of RTSA at follow-ups of a decade or longer. Stable Long-Term Results of RTSA in Patients Younger than 60 The researchers analyzed the long-term outcomes of RTSA in 20 patients, average age 57 years. All had "massive, irreparable" tears of the rotator cuff muscles, causing shoulder "pseudoparalysis,"with little no ability to lift the arm. This group of patients typically gets limited benefit from shoulder replacement with conventional implants, which rely on the rotator cuff muscles to provide shoulder movement. The RTSA technique--using an implant in which the natural locations of the shoulder "ball and socket" are reversed--uses other muscles to move the shoulder, providing an alternative when the rotator cuff is severely damaged or destroyed. When first introduced, RTSA was performed mainly in elderly patients who placed low demands on the shoulder. With refinements in technique and components in more recent years, the procedure has been used in younger, more active patients. But there are concerns about how well the results of RTSA will hold up over time in this group of patients. The new study focused on long-term outcomes of RTSA in patients under age 60. The patients underwent follow-up examination between eight and 19 years after surgery (average 11.7 years). Three patients had RTSA in both shoulders, for a total of 23 procedures. Compared to their preoperative status, most patients had substantial long-term improvement after RTSA. The average Constant score--a standard assessment accounting for shoulder motion, strength, daily activities, and pain--at the time of final-follow-up improved from 24 to 59 (out of a possible 100). Patients' ratings of "subjective shoulder value" improved from 20 percent to 71 percent (compared to 100 percent for a normal shoulder). Shoulder movement and strength increased, while pain decreased. The improvement was similar for patients with and without prior shoulder surgery. However, complications occurred in 39 percent of the shoulders. Further surgery was required in six shoulders; in two cases, the RTSA procedure was considered a failure. When complications occurred, long-term shoulder functioning was not as good but even with the high complication rate, 72 percent of patients rated their satisfaction level as excellent or good. The results alleviate concerns that the clinical benefits of RTSA might not hold up over time in younger, more active patients. Despite its high complication rate, Dr. Gerber and colleagues conclude that RTSA "provides substantial and lasting improvement" in shoulder function and pain, in a group of patients with limited treatment options. ### Click here to read "Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty for Massive, Irreparable Rotator Cuff Tears Before the Age of 60 Years: Long-Term Results." Article DOI: 10.2106/JBJS.17.00095 About The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery (JBJS) has been the most valued source of information for orthopaedic surgeons and researchers for over 125 years and is the gold standard in peer-reviewed scientific information in the field. A core journal and essential reading for general as well as specialist orthopaedic surgeons worldwide, The Journal publishes evidence-based research to enhance the quality of care for orthopaedic patients. Standards of excellence and high quality are maintained in everything we do, from the science of the content published to the customer service we provide. JBJS is an independent, non-profit journal. About Wolters Kluwer Wolters Kluwer N.V. (AEX: WKL) is a global leader in information services and solutions for professionals in the health, tax and accounting, risk and compliance, finance and legal sectors. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with specialized technology and services. Wolters Kluwer reported 2016 annual revenues of 4.3 billion. The company, headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands, serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries and employs 19,000 people worldwide. Wolters Kluwer Health is a leading global provider of information and point of care solutions for the healthcare industry. For more information about our products and the organization, visit http://www.wolterskluwer.com/, follow @WKHealth or @Wolters_Kluwer on Twitter, like us on Facebook, follow us on LinkedIn, or follow WoltersKluwerComms on YouTube. For more information about Wolters Kluwer's solutions and organization, visit http://www.wolterskluwer.com, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Wednesday, October 25, 2017 Free Webinar, November 27, 2017 Webinar Overview With PRIMEChat, top corporate communicators from some of the worlds most prominent organizations share compelling experiences, guidelines and insights promoting research in public relations. PRIME Research along with partner The Institute for Public Relations supports this series of one-on-one interviews featuring the professions top PR research thought-leaders. Presenters to date include speakers from McDonalds, SAP and KPMG. This latest installment features Allyson Hugley, President, Measurement and Analytics at Weber Shandwick. Allyson will be interviewed by fellow IPR Commission member PRIME CEO Mark Weiner, a member of the Arthur Page Society and the author of books, essays and features about PR research. Speakers Allyson Hugley President, Measurement and Analytics Practice Weber Shandwick Allyson Hugley is the President of Weber Shandwicks Measurement and Analytics Practice. Her responsibilities include leading measurement and analytics work across the global network, spearheading agency thought-leadership in this area and providing analytics and insights counsel to the agencys top global accounts. Allyson is a frequent speaker at PR industry conferences, as well as being a guest lecturer at New York University and The City College of New York on the topic of PR measurement and analytics. Since joining Weber Shandwick in 2011, she has led analytics and program evaluation projects for clients across a variety of sectors including financial services, healthcare, manufacturing and materials, government, telecommunications, and consumer packaged goods. She has also developed award-winning communications research and evaluation programs. Allyson is a member of the Market Research Council (MRC) and the former co-Chair for the North American chapter of the International Association for the Measurement and Evaluation of Communications (AMEC). She has also served on AMECs board of directors. The Network Journal recognized Allyson among the 25 most influential black women in business for 2015. This year, she was also recognized by PR News as one of the Top Women in PR and inducted into their PR Measurement Hall of Fame. In 2012, she was listed among PRWeeks Top 40 under 40. That same year, she received an honorable mention for PR News Measurement Person of the Year. Prior to joining Weber Shandwick, Allyson was the Senior Vice President of Insight Creation at MSLGROUP and before that a research manager at Scholastic. She started her career at RoperASW (now GfK), where she was a senior research director responsible for consumer intelligence, corporate communications, message effectiveness and audience measurement research. Mark Weiner Chief Executive Officer PRIME Research Americas One of the worlds largest corporate communications research and consulting firms, PRIME employs more than 500 analysts and consultants who combine talent with technology to foster better business decisions among its global clients. Weiner joined PRIME as CEO in 2008. Prior to PRIME, Weiner was the Global Director and Senior Vice President of Ketchum Research where he led an international team of analysts before which he was the CEO of Delahaye, a corporate communications research and consulting firm. Weiner founded Medialink Research in 1994 which became Delahaye Medialink in 1999 after the acquisition of The Delahaye Group. Weiner is a member of the PR News Measurement Hall of Fame and delivered the Distinguished Lecture in Public Relations at Quinnipiac University. Weiner is a member of the Arthur W. Page Society, serves as a Trustee and the 2017 Chairman of the Measurement Commission for The Institute for Public Relations, and serves on the Advisory Board of the Museum of Public Relations. He is a member of the International Association of Business Communicators, the Public Relations Society of America and AMEC. Weiner sits on the editorial advisory boards of The Strategist and PR News. He is a regular contributor to PR Week, IABCs Communication World, PRSAs Tactics and The Strategist, and Commpro.biz/PR-ROI, as well as an active participant at conferences by The Institute for Public Relations, The Conference Board, ABERJE, the Association of National Advertisers, The American Marketing Association, The Arthur Page Society, IABC and PRSA. Since 1993, he has devoted his career to helping many of the worlds most respected organizations and brands to demonstrate and generate a positive return on their investment in corporate and brand communications. ENON VALLEY, Pa. Clayton and Renee Kenny, of Kenny Jersey Farm, have plans to get better before they get bigger. The Kennys were honored with the 2017 Young Jersey Breeders award this summer. It meant a lot, said Renee. It was just the recognition we needed - because we arent feeling validation through our milk check. They were one of seven to receive the award nationally. Other winners included: Bernie Bakker, Alvold, Iowa; Nathan Chittenden, Schodack Landing, New York; J. Hodge, Norwich, Ohio; Heather Hyman, Adams, New York; Case Kasbergen, Tulare, California; and Jessica and Cole Peters, Meadville, Pennsylvania. Jersey life Clayton and Renee are partners on the 500-acre farm, managing the day-to-day activities. Clayton is the third generation to operate the farm. Renee grew up on Normandell Farms in Tioga County and is a fourth generation dairy farmer. They both received their first registered Jersey cow when they were 8 years old and developed a fondness for the breed. Jerseys run high components, rich in butter fat and protein, Clayton said. They are curious I find them in the weirdest places, just because they are curious and they will never leave a gate alone. Clayton and Renee, who became friends at dairy association events when they were children, smile when they talk about the cows and the farm they hope to keep operational for their children Nora, 3, and Landon, 1. Off the farm Renee earned a bachelors degree in animal science from Penn State University. After graduation she moved to Ohio to be the assistant editor of Jersey Journal, then worked for Select Sires Inc. as a communications specialist. Clayton worked off the farm as a diesel mechanic for four years after high school. They married in 2012. At that time, the dairy was run by Claytons dad, Don, and grandfather, Robert. A year after he decided to come back to the farm his father died suddenly, leaving him to run the farm with his aging grandfather, Robert Kenny, now 89. Today They milk around 210 cows, have 200 other heifers and 30 dry cows. With a handful of employees, they milk twice a day, 365 days a year, selling their milk to United Dairy. They bought 17 cows from Renees parents and some high-genetic animals for their children. We persevere for our children. It is the challenge that keeps things interesting, Clayton said. In 2015, Clayton and Renee bought the cows and equipment from Claytons grandfather and are now working on a land transition. His grandpa took some convincing to make the transition. He just didnt want to listen, Clayton said. We had several young transition specialists out here, and he wouldnt even talk to them. About two years ago we got Bernie and hes older, so grandpa decided it was time to listen. Bernie Erven, Ph.D., is a professor emeritus from Ohio State University. He consults families on business succession. Clayton and Renee make the farm decisions, but still consult grandpa. He is the patriarch around here. If he says it it goes. Dairy associations The Kennys have always been involved at the county, state and national level in dairy associations. Its the community you really need, especially in the industry now, Renee said, in reference to low milk prices. In the network, there are mentors weve grown up with. They attend the events to check in with fellow dairy farmers and to become mentors the youth can relate to, Renee said. Clayton has worked to promote the dairy industry by hosting local Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts. He also serves the community as a member of the townships planning committee. Renee is the youth director of the Pennsylvania Jersey Cattle Association and was a 4-H adviser for the county dairy club. She stepped down once she had Nora and Landon, but still helps when she can. She also serves on the Penn State Dairymens board of directors and serves as a COBA/Select Sires Inc. District 7 delegate. Blogging with purpose Two years ago, Renee started a blog, Eat. Farm. Love. I felt the need to tell our story, and educate consumers and neighbors about what our family does. She loves to cook and use products from the farm as their families gather in the kitchen. Her blog shares recipes, the ups and downs of farm life, and agricultural issues as they come up in the media. Renee uses her blog to discuss topics like almond milk. Some dont know its not a dairy product, almond beverages dont have the same nutritional qualities as milk. There is a lot of misinformation out there. Clarification is needed in the industry and she hopes the blog will connect consumers to the farm. Renee also works part time for Dairy Girl Network, a national network connecting women of the dairy industry, encouraging camaraderie and, personal and professional development. She works in program development as a freelancer and does graphic design work. Profit team Four years ago, Clayton and Renee started a profit team which includes themselves, their two nutritionists, accountant, reproduction manager, veterinarian, Extension agent, their grandfather and uncle. The team helps us address priorities and make suggestions on how we can improve, Renee said. Last winter when the team sat down to discuss the operation, items such as headlocks, new stalls in the coverlet, mats in the parlor and calf care rose to the top. The team makes us talk about things we might not want to bring up, it actually sparked the transition process, Clayton said. Many of the barns on the farm were built in the 1970s. Clayton said they are currently working with old barns and equipment, but have plans to eventually replace everything. They are also working with the Natural Resources Conservation Service to have a new manure pit installed in 2018. Improvements Since they took over the farm, they have increased production per cow, reclaimed registrations, put a focus on genetics, improved reproduction standards, and crop quality. They have also increased the farms rolling herd average from 12,000 pounds in 2010 to 15,550 pounds in 2016. They use all artificial insemination, working hand-in-hand with their AI technician who comes to the farm every day. The Kennys have started using sex semen, not to necessarily get more heifers, but to improve the bottom end of their herd, said Renee. In five years we hope to be better better ourselves, improve the quality of our herd. We want to get better before we get bigger, The AICs Agribusiness Conference returns to an in-person format for 2022 and provides the agri-supply industry with a day of insight, networking, and influencing opportunities. Attracting industry business leaders and stakeholders, the conference will focus on the key issues facing the agri-supply industry around the theme of Managing disruptive shocks in the agri-food supply chain. Speakers from the business, scientific, and political communities will prompt thought and debate throughout the day. FarmingUK assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this page. The information contained in this site is provided on an "as is" basis, and should be independently verified before travel. Following the success of last years live BCPC Congress in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, UK we are delighted to be returning to the same venue on 8-9 November 2022. The programme committee has developed an exciting programme with authoritative speakers presenting on the theme: Providing policy and regulatory support for multi-functional UK agriculture UK agriculture has three key deliverables: To produce adequate supplies of healthy food to contribute to UK food security; To support environmental initiatives which benefit global food production including: biodiversity, conservation, rewilding and environmental land management; To contribute to UK net carbon zero targets. What is UK agriculture doing to meet these goals and what more can be done in light of current political issues and international trade on arable crop production? What is Government doing to provide guidance, funding and regulatory support so that these deliverables can be achieved? The sessions in this years Congress will aim to tackle the challenges and provide some solutions and insight into a way forward for UK agriculture. Map Now entering our 89th year dedicated to showcasing the British top and soft fruit, the National Fruit Show is the show by growers for growers. We will be back at the Kent Showground, Detling, Maidstone, Kent. ME14 7JF in November 2022. *New* for 2022 is a focus on soft fruit, including our new soft fruit technical forum. FarmingUK assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this page. The information contained in this site is provided on an "as is" basis, and should be independently verified before travel. There are 'game changing' opportunities for dairy once the UK leaves EU as demand for dairy is growing globally and most British consumers have shunned plant-based alternatives. This is according to a new report published by Dairy UK, the representative body of the UK dairy industry. The White Paper report details the 'game changing' opportunities and challenges which the industry is facing over issues such as Brexit and consumer confidence in dairy foods. The report called Brexit the most defining issue the industry has faced for generations. The White Paper identified what Brexit needs to deliver to safeguard the future interests of an industry that employs more than 70,000 people, and has an overall turnover of nearly 28 billion. On prospects for the industry, the White Paper reveals that an increasing demand for dairy globally is putting world milk production on an upward trend. 'Massive export boost' On the issue of Brexit, Dairy UK says the continued trading agreements with the EU without tariff and non-tariff barriers will mean "massive" export and growth opportunities failure will damage exports and reduce demand for dairy. The report states that the worst outcome from Brexit would be a return to WTO rules, and an unhurried transition period would give the industry the chance to adapt and take advantage of the opportunities Brexit creates. Access to skilled and unskilled labour is vital, the report notes. Failure to maintain access will drive up operating costs, with a major impact on margins. It says the Northern Ireland border issue should be resolved by creating a frictionless and seamless border regime that could be a blueprint for future arrangements with the EU. Demand growing On industry prospects, the White Paper reveals that demand for dairy is growing globally and milk prices are on an upward trend. The government is thus being urged by Dairy UK to work collaboratively with the industry to help exploit export opportunities around the world. It is also being urged to review the Eatwell Plate Guide to take account of benefits of dairy. On consumer confidence, the report says that UK consumers continue to support dairy loyally, despite the arrival of plant-based alternative drinks and anti-dairy activism. The report notes figures which say that 87% consumers are drinking cow's milk, 94% of adults buying cheese and 78% enjoying yogurt or fromage frais, Latest figures also show continuous growth in volume and value of sales of milk, cream, cheese yogurt, butter and organic dairy products. The government has also been urged to keep dairy products exempt from the forthcoming Sugar Drinks Industry Levy when it is implemented next year. 'Love for dairy' Paul Vernon, chairman of Dairy UK, said the White Paper demonstrates that consumer love for dairy remains "very strong". Brexit is a monumental challenge and a game changer. If Brexit is successfully delivered there is tremendous potential in terms of exports and product development. If it is a failure, there will be far reaching consequences for dairy, Mr Vernon said. No effort can be spared by the industry, the UK government and the EU to secure a positive outcome and we will continue to give every assistance to the government to make that happen. Given the increase in global demand for dairy, prospects are good. We do, however, need to seize the moment and that will require yet more of the innovation and inspiration that have been the hallmark of our industry for generations. Dr Judith Bryans, chief executive of Dairy UK, added that the White Paper details the performance of the dairy industry across a wide range of areas including nutrition, consumer trends, farming and milk processing, animal health and welfare and the environment. It shows we have a track record we can be proud of but, like any major industry, we have to maintain our deep commitment to continually improve and innovate. Ultimately, we are judged by consumers and we are very grateful for the outstanding and enduring support they give to dairy, Dr Byrans said. Farms were nearly a third short of workers in September, a new survey by the NFU has revealed. The farming union has warned that the supply chain could face "significant disruption" next year unless the government takes action to prevent a shortfall of workers for agriculture. The NFUs labour providers survey reveals that there was a 29% shortfall in seasonal workers for horticulture businesses in September, raising the average shortfall for the year to 11%. The survey also shows that the number of returning workers to farms, a critical source of the workforce, fell to 16%, its lowest level all year. The returnee rate had been as high as 65% in January. Farmers are feeling the impact on farm as the cost of food production is rising through higher wages, reduced picking rates and, in some cases, non-harvesting of crops. The survey follows the release of a report which warns there is less than a year left to put a new seasonal workers scheme in place, or risk "catastrophe". The 2019 crop and with it the future of the industry - is at stake, said growers organisation English Apples and Pears chief executive Steven Munday. 'Critically important' NFU Deputy President Minette Batters said the British horticulture industry is "critically important" to British agriculture, providing vital jobs and value to the economy. She said: As an industry, we have the opportunity to enhance our home-grown food production and increasing the amount of fruit and veg we grow should be a central part of that. The situation for farms has become a lot more challenging and farmers are already experiencing the serious effects a lack of workers can have on a business, with some being forced to not harvest crops. If the industry continues to see serious shortfalls in the availability of workers, the knock-on effects for the supply chain and the public could be serious. 'Vital for food production' Ms Batters said access to a competent and reliable workforce is vital for British food production, especially in a time of record low levels of UK unemployment. There remains a window of time between now and May 2018 for the Government to take action to prevent a shortfall and the ensuing impacts, she said. The simplest measure would be a tried and tested seasonal agricultural workers scheme open to non-EU workers to top-up the access we have now to EU nationals. Post-Brexit, we need to see an immigration policy that is based on fact and business need and recognises the importance and seasonality of workers across all skill levels. Earlier this week, Prime Minister Theresa May suggested a seasonal agricultural workers scheme could be reintroduced after Brexit. May said the migration advisory committee is looking at Brexit and its impact on farming, and whether or not it will be necessary to reinstate it. British authorities are increasingly concerned about the possible return of avian influenza following a number of outbreaks in continental Europe. The risk of avian influenza in the United Kingdom currently remains low, despite confirmation of outbreaks in continental Europe. Authorities have confirmed to the OIE (the World Organisation for Animal Health) that bird flu has struck in a near 42,000-bird commercial layer flock in the Zeeland region of the Netherlands. The strain involved is a low path type H5N2 - the virus involved in large bird flu outbreaks in the United States in 2015. A new highly pathogenic outbreak of a H5 strain has also been reported on a farm in Bulgaria involving nearly 11,000 birds. Culling has been carried out on both farms and restrictions have been put in place around the affected premises. Perhaps more significant for the United Kingdom, is that highly pathogenic H5N8 - the strain that hit the UK and the rest of Europe last winter - has been found in a wild bird in Germany. This is on a route that migratory birds take on their way to the UK. On Wednesday (25 October), the UK government increased the bird flu risk from low to medium for wild birds in UK, but poultry flocks remain low. 'Better position' Despite the discovery in Germany and the threat level rising to medium for wild birds, the official UK risk level remains low. Despite the risk being low in the UK, EU Member States have been preparing for cases of bird flu this winter. Robert Gooch, chief executive of the British Free Range Egg Producers Association (BFREPA), says he understands that the current risk is lower than it was at the same point last year. "Specialists we have spoken to say that at the moment we are in a better position than we were at this same time last year," said Robert. "Last year cold weather in Russia and continental Europe brought easterly winds, which brought wild fowl to the UK carrying the virus. This year we have been seeing southerly winds. "AI is definitely around but it mostly seems to be travelling down the central European flyways at the moment. So the risk to the UK seems to be lower than last year at this time. "The weather can obviously change. It is still likely that we will see an outbreak this winter but the Defra official risk level just now is low." Residual virus Mr Gooch said he had taken note of the wild bird discovery in Germany, and BFREPA members were being advised to ensure their levels of bio-security were maintained. But he said he did not think the German case - in a mallard at Niedersachsen - changed the position in the United Kingdom. "We know there is still residual virus in the environment. I don't think this case changes things here just now." Last winter highly pathogenic H5N8 swept across 18 European countries, including the United Kingdom. In the UK there were a total of 13 confirmed cases between December and June, although none of them involved commercial layer flocks. Six of the cases in the UK involved backyard flocks, and there were also outbreaks in turkeys and game birds. Cases of H5N8 were also recorded in Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, the Republic of Korea, Nigeria and Tunisia. Governments across Europe responded to last winter's outbreaks of H5N8 by ordering birds to be housed to try to prevent the virus spreading. This brought its own problems because, under European Union law, free range birds can only be housed for a maximum of 12 weeks before they lose their free range status. Eggs from birds locked up for more than 12 weeks have to be sold as barn eggs. 12-week period Following last winter's outbreaks, egg industry leaders pressed the European Commission to increase the 12-week period to 20. The EU refused to move to 20, but it has agreed to 16 weeks. This change is currently making its way through the legislative process in Brussels. It is hoped that the amended rule will be in place later this month or in December. "We will, hopefully be in a better position than last year because of the change," said Robert Gooch. He said he expected the European Commission to sign off on the change to the rules. "We are 90 per cent down the policy process. It needs rubber-stamping. Hopefully that will happen towards the end of this month. "It will also be applied to birds when they are housed, which will give us a bit more flexibility," said Mr Gooch, referring to a change in the point from which housed status will be counted. Under the commission amendment, it will now start from when the individual flock is housed. High and low risk One issue arousing discontent amongst English producers is last winter's decision by the chief vet to split the country into high and low risk areas. A UK-wide housing order was put in place in December last year when H5N8 began to spread across Europe. For most parts of the United Kingdom the order was lifted at the end of February to avoid free range eggs being downgraded. Whilst the order was lifted as one in Scotland and in Wales, in England Defra ruled that, in certain designated high risk areas, layers would have to remain locked up to avoid the risk of infection. This decision led to anger among many producers in England, with affected farms having their eggs downgraded. In some cases neighbours found themselves on either side of a housing order boundary line - with one producer's hens forced to be kept in and their eggs sold as barn whilst the other farmer's hens were free to roam and their eggs were sold as free range. At the annual meeting of BFREPA in October a number of producers insisted that their officers should tell Defra that they would not accept the same policy this year. Robert Gooch told FarmingUK that BFREPA was continuing to make its opposition known. "We are arguing through the Defra AI Core Group that this is not a sustainable policy," said Robert. The latest outbreak in the Netherlands involved a flock of 41,500 birds in the Zeeland region. All the birds were culled following confirmation of AI in tests at a laboratory at Wageningen. Restrictions have been put in place around the affected farm. MPs and Peers from across the parties turned out to show their support for continued investment in the countryside after Brexit at an event in Parliament. Organised by the CLA, the event on Wednesday (25 October) highlighted how after the UK ends its participation in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), a new framework for investing in the countryside can be delivered that better meets the needs of rural Britain. Among those lending their support were Defra Minister Lord Gardiner, Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Sue Hayman and former Environment Secretary Owen Paterson. The British countryside provides the British public with food, fresh air, iconic landscapes and a rich diversity of wildlife, the event herd. These features are vital for everyone, not least the millions of people who live in, work in, or enjoy visiting rural Britain, CLA President Ross Murray explained. There is still a long way to go in the crucial discussions about exactly how we invest in our agriculture and our landscapes after Brexit... We should be in no doubt that the rural economy, productive agriculture as our primary land use and our landscapes remain a priority for public investment. That is why we have brought The Countryside Matters campaign to the heart of Westminster to unite those who love the countryside and believe it should remain a vital national priority for government. Neil Parish MP and chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee said: As a nation we ask so much of the countryside, from putting food on our plates and providing habitats for wildlife, to reducing flood risk, storing carbon and giving us all space to get out in the fresh air. Preserving the countryside A YouGov poll carried out over the summer revealed that more than eight out of 10 people (84%) think the Government should spend money on preserving and managing the countryside. 61% of people said that the current spend of 3billion per year is either the right amount of public money to spend on it (40%) or too little (21%). Just over a quarter (27%) said the landscape was the feature they most enjoy about visiting the countryside and just under half (44%) knew that farmers and landowners are responsible for managing it. 42% of people surveyed thought food production should be one of the top priorities for government investment in the countryside with flood management, enhancing wildlife and planting trees coming close behind. Mr Murray added: Managing the landscape, producing quality food and planting trees bring benefits to everyone but they require investment. We have a unique opportunity post-Brexit to ensure farmers and landowners are better recognised for undertaking this vital work. Superstar Rajinikanth Superstar Rajinikanth clicked at the Chennai airport last night. Dubai Bound Rajinikanth headed to Dubai for the audio launch of 2.0. Helicopter Ride Rajinikanth and Amy Jackson took a helicopter ride in Dubai as well. Sky View They viewed the city from the sky! So awesome, right? Amy Jackson Amy Jackson is seen boarding the helicopter with a huge smile on her face. Cricket Stadium Even India Vs New Zealand ODI series has been hooked to 2.0. Dubai Arrival Rajinikanth received a grand welcome at the Dubai airport. Special Treatment The whole crew were treated really well by the airport and government officials. Akshay Kumar Even Akshay Kumar took a helicoper ride in Dubai along with A.R Rahman. Getting Ready The starcast of 2.0 getting ready for the audio launch at Burj Park. Burj Park The press conference is underway at the Burj Park. Grand Release People are eagerly waiting for the release of 2.0 and it's all set to hit the theatres on January 26, 2018. A local court has issued summons to actor Sanjay Dutt in connection with remarks allegedly made by him against BSP chief Mayawati during campaigning for the 2009 Lok Sabha elections. Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Sanjay Yadav yesterday issued summons to the actor directing him to appear in the court on November 16. The court also asked the Mumbai commissioner to serve the summons to the actor, prosecution officer Ramesh Chand Kannaujia said today. On April 19, 2009, while campaigning for the Samajwadi Party nominee in Tikaitnagar area of the district, the actor had regaled the audience with his famous 'jaadu ki jhappi' remark and allegedly said that he would like to give one to Mayawati. The district administration had videographed the public meeting and later on the directives of then district magistrate, Masauli police station in-charge Vinay Misra had lodged an FIR.With inputs from pti. Also Read: Shahid Kapoor & Kareena Kapoor Weren't Talking To Each Other On JWM Sets: Saumya Tandon Shooting with veteran actor Dharmendra for Yamla Pagla Deewana Phir Se was an exhilarating moment for Kriti Kharbanda. Yamla Pagla Deewana Phir Se is the third film in the Yamla Pagla Deewana franchise which features 81-year-old Dharmendra along with his sons Sunny and Bobby. Kriti has joined the franchise and has already finished her first shooting schedule. In an interview with PTI, Kriti says, "When I did a scene with Dharam sir for the first time, I actually cried! I was very nervous, it was our one-on-one scene, where my back was facing the camera. The cinematographer noticed that I was in tears, it was an intense scene too and he said 'relax, don't worry'. "Someone later told him that Kriti was crying as she was nervous about acting with you and he was like, 'Kharbanda, what happened girl'? He calls me 'Kharbanda', he doesn't like calling me Kriti. I find it very sweet, it's the first time someone has done that," she says. Working with Dharmendra not only made the 28-year-old actor happy but also made her family proud. "Never in my wildest dreams I thought I would work with Dharmendra sir. I remember the first selfie I took with him, I posted on our family WhatsApp group. My father couldn't stop beaming with joy. I could feel it. Everytime I see them proud, it makes everything so worth it," she says. Kriti, who made her Hindi debut with Raaz: Reboot opposite Emraan Hashmi, featured in "Guest Iin London" this year. The actor is currently gearing up for the release of "Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana", which also stars Rajkummar Rao. "This year has been really good for me. Guest Iin London didn't work but it got me more work, it helped me grow as an actor. One movie should lead to two movies and I am really happy for that. "With time, I am getting to work with actors who are known for their work. I am liking that, enjoying every bit and I want to soak it all in. Sometimes I can't believe all of this is happening," she says. "Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana" is scheduled to release on November 10. Irrfan Khan who is high on love after his back to back hits is all set to hit the grounds for the promotions of his upcoming release Qarib Qarib Singlle. He has a special surprise planned for his fans in Kolkata. Irrfan has set aside two consecutive days to spend on the promotions and is all ready to woo the ladies there. Hot Lingerie Shoot! Amy Jackson Poses For Lipsy London! The actor along with his co-star Parvathy will be visiting various cities as a part of the promotions but Irrfan has a special plan for all his female fans in Kolkata. Irrfan will be seen having the all girl's favourite 'phuchkas' opposite the famous Victoria Memorial with his female fans. The actor will be portraying a quirky lover boy avatar in the film, and he is all excited to experience this personality with his fans. That's not all, Irrfan will also visit the cultural hub of the city, Nandan Cinema for interviews and media interactions. Sunny Leone Economics 101, Want To Save Money? Learn It The Sunny Leone Way! As a cherry on the top, Irrfan Khan along with Parvathy will enjoy a boat ride in the iconic 'Hoogly' river as a treat for his fans. The Sun Downer event will be the most romantic and a majestic gesture by the actor. Qarib Qarib Singlle is a contemporary love story of a middle-aged couple who meet through online dating. The movie unfolds the desi adventure of Yogi and Jaya as they embark on their journey to discover love and life. The film is garnering a lot of attention for its unusual pairing and quirky content. The trailer has received appreciation from the audience for its unusual story line promising a joy-ride. The songs too have been loved by the audience for its unconventional and soulful music. This quirky love story travels through the cities of Bikaner, Rishikesh and Gangtok taking us on an unusual ride of a middle-age romance. Presented by Zee Studios, 'Qarib Qarib Singlle' is A Jar Pictures production and is helmed by filmmaker Tanuja Chandra; the film is shot across real locations of Bikaner, Rishikesh and Gangtok and is all set to release on 10th November 2017. The Scripting For Dabangg 3 Has Begun At the trailer launch of his upcoming film Tera Intezaar, Arbaaz Khan who is the producer of Dabangg franchise revealed, "Yes, we have started scripting the film and I think we will start shooting 'Dabangg 3' by the middle of the next year." Will Sunny Leone Be The New Munni? As Sunny Leone, who is his co-star in Tera Intezaar, was also present, Arbaaz, was asked if he is planning to cast her to do an item number like "Munni Badnaam". To this he replied, "Yes, why not? And why would she be a Munni, we can cast her for something different, but for that, we have to finalize something." Arbaaz Won't Be Directing Dabangg 3 Earlier while talking to the media, Salman had revealed, "We are going to start 'Dabangg 3', so he (Arbaaz) told me 'Very good, but I am not going to direct it and I am only producing it'. So I said, 'Very good, we will find a good director for that'." Sunny Leone Was The Reason Why Arbaaz Khan Chose To Do Tera Intezaar Coming back to his upcoming flick, Sunny Leone was one of the reasons why Arbaaz came on board. He was quoted as saying, "One of the reasons I did the film, was to spend some time with Sunny. She is wonderful and we had a great time shooting in abroad". Will He Promote His Film On Brother Salman Khan's Bigg Boss 11? When asked if he is planning to promote the film in "Bigg Boss- 11", which is hosted by his brother, Bollywood superstar Salman Khan, Arbaaz said. "Well, I think that is the producer to decide. If we have the opportunity, and the Colors channel allows us to do so, why not." He further added: "Though I do not watch 'Bigg Boss' every day but I like watching the show. Earlier, few seasons, I followed; I watched all episodes when Sunny (Leone) was in the show." Recommended Video Tiger Zinda hai First Song Swag: Katrina Kaif's Photo LEAKED from shoot | FilmiBeat Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif recently wrapped up shooting for the last song for their upcoming film Tiger Zinda Hai in Greece. Still drooling over the recently released poster of the slick action thriller? Well, here's something exciting coming up your way soon. Read on to know more... Swag Se Karenge Sabka Swagat Well, that's not a dialogue but the title song of Salman-Katrina's Tiger Zinda Hai that has been shot at the Naxos Island in Greece. The Song Celebrates The Film While talking about it, director Ali Abbas Zafar had said, "The new song is a tribute to love, peace and brotherhood. It's visually grand and quite stylish. It also features dancers and different moves from all over the world. That way, the song celebrates the film and its global reach." Guess Who's Got Salman- Katrina Kaif Dancing To Her Tunes! None other than ace choreographer, Vaibhavi Merchant! A Smoking Hot Katrina Meanwhile, a leaked picture from sets of the song shoot has been doing the rounds on the internet and gosh, Katrina's smoking hot avatar is making us go oolalaa! It's Raining Selfies Amidst the working schedule, Salman and Kat just couldn't stop clicking selfies. Meanwhile, while browsing Twitter, we came across a video of the whole team dancing to the title track of Tiger Zinda Hai. Yes, if the caption has to be believed, Salman has given his voice for the song. Wohoo, now isn't that quite exciting! Check out the video here- Here's a little throw back #tbt with tiger cub and tigeress fun memories in morocco on the set #tigerzindahai look forward to seeing the final product. A post shared by @rezaparkview on Sep 28, 2017 at 8:09am PDT Directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, Tiger Zinda Hai is slated to release on 22nd December. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (CMG 0.68%) released earnings for its third quarter after market close on Oct. 24, 2017, reporting strong earnings growth and an improvement in a number of important operating metrics. Unfortunately, the burrito-maker's revenue growth of 8.8%, same-store sales -- also called comps -- growth of only 1%, and the announcement that the company was substantially slowing its future plans for store expansion are weighing heavily on the stock in trading on Oct. 25. At this writing, just after noon EDT, Chipotle's stock is down 15%, putting Chipotle's share price at its lowest in almost five years. 1. Improvement from last year, but not last quarter Chipotle reported sales of $1.13 billion in the quarter, 8.8% higher than the year-ago quarter while comps increased 1%, helping improve restaurant-level operating margin to 16.1%, up from 14.1% last year. This was a big reason why net income increased to $19.6 million, more than double last year's $7.8 million result in the third quarter. When factoring in the impact of two major non-recurring items, profits would have been even higher. The company said it was taking an $18.2 million charge related to the "data security incident" announced in April, and that the closure of hundreds of stores because of hurricanes Irma and Harvey cost more than $6 million in lost sales. The numbers were generally better than they were last year, but Chipotle's results went backwards from the second quarter: Metric Q3 2017 Q2 2017 Revenue $1.128 billion $1.169 billion Net income $19.6 million $66.7 million Earnings per share $0.69 $2.32 Comps 1% 8.1% Restaurant operating margin 16.1% 18.8% Labor percent of sales 27.2% 26.2% Food/packaging percent of sales 35% 34.1% Occupancy/other operating costs percent of sales 21.8% 20.9% The concern here is that Chipotle -- in theory -- should be delivering stronger operational results with each passing quarter. That wasn't the case this time around. 2. Mother nature's role in the quarter was measurable but temporary Hurricanes Harvey and Irma played a measurable role in impacting Chipotle's business results in the quarter, forcing the closure of well over 400 stores. Management said that in addition to the loss of $6 million in sales -- which cost around 50 basis points (or 0.5%) of comps growth -- the company also had $3.3 million in incremental expenses directly related to the hurricanes. This included paying employees even when restaurants were closed, charitable contributions to support recovery efforts, and repair and write-off expenses. The storms have also wreaked havoc with avocados, sending prices up by double at one point and substantially impacting availability. CFO John Hartung said this cost the company about $0.19 in lost earnings per share in the quarter. The good news is that the Mexican avocado harvest is coming, and management expects prices and supply levels to return to normal soon. Management also said that the impact of Irma and Harvey are proving to be temporary, with sales quickly recovering when stores reopened. 3. Should you worry about traffic and comps? Maybe As much as the two major storms cost lost sales and higher expenses, there was evidence that even when adjusting for those things, Chipotle's recovery efforts have stalled. On the earnings call, Hartung said that the 1% comps growth was artificially boosted by revenue the company recognized related to last year's "Chiptopia" sales promotion. Adjusting for that revenue, comps were flat in the quarter. To sum it up, the company's sales growth was essentially all a product of new store openings, and higher prices in some markets offsetting what could be -- based on the math -- a small decline in traffic. When questioned about this on the call, Hartung was cagey in his response: If you look at just the pure math, the traffic is down a bit and the check is up a bit. But the problem is we were in a heavy promotional period. We had "Love Story" where customers can earn the opportunity to get free food or buy-one-get-one (free), and so that looked artificial to me. So, there's nothing I can give you meaningful in terms of what the real underlying traffic is, and what the real underlying check is. I think as we move away from comparing against this extremely high promotional period, we'll be able to see what kind of the normal underlying traffic trends and average check trends are. Either way you slice it, Chipotle's traffic appears to have fallen, and that's something investors should at least keep a close eye on. The company did have serious promotional activity going on, and while that could have impacted revenue, one would expect it to drive higher traffic. Hartung did offer some insight on how comps changed during the quarter. He said during the first half of July comps were up 4.5%, but declined 2.25% from mid-July through Sept. 11 when the company first launched queso. From the Sept. 12 through the end of the month, comps were up 4%, and have run in the 2% to 3% positive range in October. (Note: These comps exclude stores closed due to Hurricanes Irma and Harvey.) So what happened to cause comps to turn sharply negative during the bulk of the quarter? More food safety scares, following a norovirus outbreak in a Virginia location on July 15 appear to be the biggest culprits. The good news is that the launch of queso seems to have been enough of a conversation changer to bring customers back. Here's where the potentially concerning part comes in. When elaborating on the impact of queso so far in the current quarter, Hartung said about 15% of customers are adding queso to their orders, and this is driving "most of the added comp" in the quarter. In other words, queso may be boosting comps as more people buy it, but it doesn't seem to be driving higher traffic. 4. New store expansion is being slowed sharply (and that's probably good) Chief Restaurant Officer Scott Boatwright said the company's renewed focus on simplifying its restaurant operations and helping refocus its managers on the most important things let the executive team to decide the best course of action was to slow the pace of new store openings "for the next 12 to 18 months before reaccelerating our growth." The company has already slowed its pace, announcing in the earnings release that full-year expansion would fall slightly below the low-end of the prior range of 195 to 210 new locations, but will further slow expansion in 2018 to a range of 130 to 150 new restaurants. This would be the slowest rate of expansion for the company in years. But with mixed public reception of queso that could limit its ability to drive comps growth, a lack of traffic growth in recent quarters, and another food safety scare over the summer after the company had spent millions on new processes and training, it's evident that the company isn't executing in the same way it was even two years ago. If that means it needs to take its focus off expansion and invest more resources in "fixing" whatever is keeping customers from coming back at prior levels, investors should probably want to see that happen. Looking ahead: Chipotle remains strong and profitable, but the prospects are far from clear For years, Chipotle's "Food with Integrity" motto, the quality of its food, and the solid execution of its restaurants delivered incredible growth. But over the past two years, the company has struggled to rediscover the magic formula after an E. coli outbreak in multiple restaurants and then an unrelated norovirus incident a few months later sent customers running for the exits. Comps are still well-below the prior peak, and new locations aren't delivering the same level of sales after opening as before the 2015 incidents. Since then, the company has made multiple executive and board changes, and invested in new processes, food safety equipment, technology, and training for restaurant employees. Chipotle says it's rolling out higher prices to all of its restaurants after testing higher prices in about 500 locations. That should help boost comps, but Chipotle's biggest problem remains bringing in more customers. If slowing the pace of growth to invest more resources in existing restaurants leads to bringing people back to Chipotle, it'll be well worth it for long-term investors. It's going to take time to find out if it does pay off or not. If you're a shareholder, that means riding out more uncertainty while the company tries to fix it's traffic problem. Editor's note: A previous version of this article omitted the decimal point in Q2 revenue in the table. The Fool regrets the error. One week on from the USA, F1 heads south to Mexico. Grand Prix racing only returned to the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in 2015 - but our quiz goes back much further than that... Dr. Steven Henikoff wins Chan Zuckerberg Initiative pilot funding for new DNA-mapping technique Fred Hutch biologist Dr. Steven Henikoff will lead a new pilot project funded by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative as part of an effort to support the Human Cell Atlas, a global collaborative research project that aims to map and better characterize every cell in the human body. The grants, awarded Oct. 16, were the first of their kind for the CZI, a philanthropic organization formed nearly two years ago by Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, pediatrician Dr. Priscilla Chan. CZI received nearly 500 applications in response to its announcement of the pilot grants and funded 38 projects. The research projects are primarily aimed at developing new techniques or ways to analyze large amounts of data generated by the Human Cell Atlas, which Henikoff described as akin to the next generation of the Human Genome Project. The Atlas projects goal is to map and define all human cells in their healthy state to lay the groundwork for better understanding how the cells change in different diseases. Henikoffs one-year pilot project will expand on a new technique created in his lab to map where certain proteins bind to DNA across the human genome. The technology is known as Cleavage Under Targets and Release Using Nuclease, or CUT&RUN. CUT&RUN is an improvement on the standard lab technique to map DNA-binding proteins, Henikoff said, because it yields higher precision in understanding where a given protein sits on the DNA. Henikoff and a postdoctoral fellow in his lab, Dr. Peter Skene, developed the CUT&RUN technique and showed that it works on yeast and human cells in the lab. They published a description of the methodology in the journal eLife in January. Their next step was to figure out a way to scale the technique for use on smaller numbers of cells and across many more samples in an automated way, Henikoff said, but they didnt have a particular application in mind. When Henikoff saw that the Human Cell Atlas was looking for new techniques via the CZI-funded pilot grants, it was a perfect fit, he said. They want to do millions of samples, often with limited numbers of cells; they actually have an application for [our technique]. As they develop the high-throughput version of CUT&RUN, the researchers are planning to use a type of blood stem cell that can develop into different types of immune cells. Henikoff is hoping, in the course of further developing the technology, they might also learn something interesting about the biology of blood stem cell development, which goes awry in leukemia and other blood disorders. In that way, the project also fits with what the Hutch is best at, Henikoff said, referring to the Hutchs origins with the development of bone marrow transplantation for leukemia and other blood cancers. This is a leukemia place. Rachel Tompa / Fred Hutch News Service What questions have you been asking in your research projects? Weve been involved in looking at tumor characteristics [in women from different ethnic backgrounds]. What are the characteristics of the tumor telling us about risk? What are they telling us about possible treatments? What is the relationship between tumor characteristics, breast cancer risk and potential treatments? Weve tried to get as much data as possible out there. Were working with Dr. Beti Thompson in Public Health Sciences [at Fred Hutch], who studies inequities in our health care system, to look at the biomarkers of breast tumors in Hispanic women from New Mexico and Washington state. Were asking how ancestry affects breast cancer subtype and presentation. Were analyzing those data now. Were also collaborating with the University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which is part of the World Health Organization, to look at the influence of ancestry on breast cancer subtype and tumor genetics. Right now we are working in five Latin American sites: Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Guatemala, Brazil, and Costa Rica. What kinds of connections are you seeing between background and breast cancer? Were finding some differences in rates of breast cancer subtypes between countries, and that makes a lot of sense when you look at the ancestry of Latin American women. Indigenous, African, Anglo-European genes have all come together in different proportions. This could really change what an individual woman might be susceptible to and what her cancer might look like. For example, African-American women have a high rate of triple-negative cancer, so a Latin American population that is much more African than indigenous in its ancestry mix for instance, Puerto Rico is likely to present with higher rates of triple-negative breast cancer. Were hoping to pull risk factor, genetics, and tumor characteristics together, not by grouping all Latin American women together, but by drawing conclusions based on country and ancestry. The idea of tailoring cancer treatment to each individual is gaining a lot of traction right now. Are minority women getting included in this push? Minority women have always been behind curve in terms of getting the benefit from medical advances. I look at the idea of personalized medicine as another important advance that certain populations will be slow to benefit from. Its been true of early detection by mammography, of new treatment choices, and of inclusion in clinical trials. We all know this. I think the push now has to be to make sure that the new advances in genetics, genomics, and personalized medicine really come to ALL women in this country and in other countries as well. Why has knowledge lagged about minority womens breast cancer risk, subtype, and outcomes? Minority women and their tumors are often not included in big studies. For example, the last time we checked The Cancer Genome Atlas [a federally funded program cataloging genetic links to cancer], there were tumor samples from only 11 Hispanic women out of maybe 800 breast tumors. Most samples are from non-Hispanic white women. We and a number of people across the country are trying to correct that. Knowing something about the population or the individual women that youre going to treat is very important. But you cant do it without data. Thats what were trying to provide with our studies. How can researchers make sure theyre collecting much-needed data on breast cancer in minority women? To get personalized medicine to minority women, studies have to be fully enrolled with all the ethnicities and races. They have to look at breast cancer subtype in the context of race and ethnicity. The studies need to try to understand whether risk factors, tumor characteristics and treatment responses differ by race and ethnicity. We can get minority women into studies by educating patients and clinicians. There are ways to partner with other clinical trial sites and design trials that have diversity as a core component. What is the current frontier in breast cancer? If theres one thing weve learned about breast cancer, its that its not one disease. Understanding the subtypes of breast cancer has been the probably biggest breakthrough in the years that Ive been involved in studying breast cancer. We really do have a way now to identify characteristics of tumors that allow us to target treatment. We need to continue the refinement of subtype until we can say Yeah, we know how to treat you to any woman who comes into the clinic. We also need to better understand the risk factors associated with each subtype so we can develop and test new prevention strategies. Ahead of a G7 summit at the historic Muenster Town Hall, German officials sparked widespread outrage by removing a 16th-century cross from the meeting room. Sony introduces its first SIPS service for professional photographers in India News oi -Samden Sherpa Sony SIPS members will be able to enjoy benefits such as priority repair service and access to Sony customer call care center through the registered mobile number and much more. In a bid to enrich the culture of photography in India, Sony India has now introduced Sony Imaging Pro Support (SIPS) for professional photographers. What this means is that Sony, as it forays into SIPS service, will be catering unparalleled support to professional photographers. With 4 exclusive Sony Imaging Pro Support (SIPS) service center in Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai and Cochin and a national helpline no., members will be able to experience Sony's best-in-class digital imaging products for day-to-day business and enjoy benefits such as priority repair service and access to Sony customer call care center through the registered mobile number and much more. Speaking on the announcement, Mr. Kenichiro Hibi, Managing Director, Sony India, said, "At Sony, we take pride in enhancing our services to meet the varied requirements of our customers. With the launch of Sony Imaging Pro Support (SIPS), we will be closely servicing professional photographers and provide them with world-class experience and dynamic support." "This platform will serve as a unique and differentiated platform for all SIPS members and will act as a window of opportunity for members to experience Sony's exclusive services. With an aim to deliver end-to-end customer support services, we are further looking at expansion of this immersive programme in future." To provide a refined photography experience, Sony is offering its registered members with superior support to meet their professional needs, ensuring their gear is always ready. To enroll for the SIPS Program, professionals need to register on the Sony Pro Support site post which members will be eligible for benefits like a welcome Kit (Member card and strap), invitation by card, call, e-mail, SMS, to new product launch, seminar and event as deemed fit by Sony, complimentary lens/body cleaning service, discounted service (25 percent discount on labour/ Part fees), priority repair service at service reception upon presentation of membership card, priority access to SONY customer call center through registered mobile number. The members will also be eligible for loan equipment which may be available upon request if In-Warranty turnaround time exceeds 3 working day, subject to availability and upon specific request. Eligibility Criteria This premium service from Sony will be availed free for all Alpha customers under the following qualification criteria: A full-time, self-employed individual, or an employee of a professional imaging business, who plays a direct role in the creation of moving or still images for third parties on a professional basis and holds an impeccable reputation in the industry. Professionals who own two or more Sony Alpha Full Frame interchangeable lens cameras and three or more Sony lenses (Two G Master lens and either one Zeiss lens or one G series lens), purchased from an authorized Sony India reseller. Applicant should be at least 18 years of age and a resident of India. Thus applicants, who meet all of the eligibility criteria, can apply with the help of following steps: 1. Register their email address for verification via https://prosupport.sony.co.in/ 2. Fill out the online application form with the required information. 3. Upload any required application documents. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Face ID accuracy on iPhone X hasn't been reduced assures Apple News oi -Chandrika Pre-order of iPhone X starts from tomorrow. The iPhone X was unveiled alongside the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus last month. Soon after the launch, reports claimed Apple may delay the release of iPhone X due to some production issues. However, proving the rumors wrong, Apple will start receiving the pre-orders of the iPhone X from October 27, which is tomorrow. According to a report by Bloomberg, the company has managed to make its 2017 flagship available on time by reducing the accuracy of the phone's face recognition feature. The publication cited sources close to people familiar with the matter. The report further explained that Apple relaxed some of the technical specifications for the sensors in the Face ID system to speed up the production process. While Apple usually prefers keeping quiet, this time the company has dismissed the claims made by Bloomberg. "Bloomberg's claim that Apple has reduced the accuracy spec for Face ID is completely false," said the Cupertino-giant in a statement to Reuters. As reported by Deccan Chronicle, a Bloomberg spokesperson said the publication stood behind stood behind its report. Interestingly, Apple's shares went down by 0.7 percent at$155.99 in midday trading. The Face ID system is one of the most highlighted features of the iPhone X. As claimed by Apple, the probability of fooling the Face ID is next to impossible; 1 in 1,000,000. Apple has assured its fans by saying, "The quality and accuracy of Face ID haven't changed. It continues to be 1 in a million probability of a random person unlocking your iPhone with Face ID." Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Here are some details about HTC-made Muskie; the canceled Google phone News oi -Chandrika The HTC made Google Pixel 2 XL packs a larger battery of 3,830mAh capacity. The first generation of Google Pixel phones was manufactured by HTC. However, this year, only the Pixel 2 was made by HTC, while the Pixel 2 XL was built by LG. As some of you may know, the phones were codenamed as Walleye and Taimen. Long before their launch, there were rumors claiming Google would release a third Pixel phone codenamed as Muskie. The Muskie phone was eventually dropped in favor of the larger LG made Taimen, which would be later known as Pixel 2 XL. Well, the Muskie model has been spotted on AOSP code files by XDA Developers. It turns out, the Pixel 2 XL was originally supposed to be made by HTC. The AOSP files further reveal that the HTC made Google Pixel 2 XL packs a larger battery of 3,830mAh capacity. Whereas the LG made Pixel 2 XL has a 3,520mAh battery. Another thing that has come to light is Muskie's display offered the screen density of 560dpi. Interestingly, the Google Pixel 2 also has the same screen density. The Muskie is also said to be equipped with a custom-made image processor called Pixel Visual Core. The Pixel 2 duo reportedly features the Pixel Visual Core image processor as well which will be enabled after receiving the Android 8.1 update. Meanwhile, alleged codenames of the 2018 Pixel phones have been leaked. Google will reportedly launch three smartphones next year and their codenames will be Crosshatch, Albacore, and Blueline. As usual, the codenames are after fishes. While two of these smartphones will be launched as "premium" phones, the third one could be a high-end model. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications OnePlus 5T render leaked again; launch after November 20 News oi -Chandrika While OnePlus 5T is said to have the same specs as the OnePlus 5, the former might pack a larger battery of 3,450mAh. Earlier this month, we came across a press invitation suggesting that the OnePlus 5T would be unveiled on November 5. Unfortunately, it turned out a fake one, probably work of some prankster. However, the rumors about the smartphone refused to stop. Moreover, the OnePlus 5T recently made its way to AnTuTu benchmark. Hence, if not November 2, the smartphone is still speculated to launch in November. According to Evan Blass, OnePlus plans to launch a smartphone in late November. While he doesn't mention OnePlus 5T, he claims the upcoming device will have an aspect ratio of 18:9. Got a second, reliable confirmation here, claiming a post-11/20 release. https://t.co/KDvBH8y7NO Evan Blass (@evleaks) October 25, 2017 The tipster posted another tweet revealing that the alleged OnePlus 5T will be unveiled sometime after November 20. He claims to have obtained the information from "reliable" source. In any case, we should better wait for an official confirmation. In a separate leak, a hands-on image believed to be of the OnePlus 5T has emerged on the Chinese micro-blogging site Weibo. The image only shows the front panel of the device. Well, from the looks of it, the smartphone holds many resemblances with the Oppo R11s. Both the phones have a full-screen design with ultra-thin bezels. Existing rumors suggest the OnePlus 5 will feature a 6-inch FHD+ display with the screen resolution of 1,0802,160 pixels along with an aspect ratio of 18:9. Due to the full-screen design, the smartphone is likely to house the fingerprint scanner on its back. Notably, if this speculation turns out to be legit, it will be the first OnePlus device to sport a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner. While OnePlus 5T is said to have the same specs as the OnePlus 5, the former might pack a larger battery of 3,450mAh. Via Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Samsung R&D India division starts working on 5G technology News oi -Samden Sherpa From what we know so far Samsung has been playing a major role in the development of 5G technology. Many smartphone manufacturers are now working on the development of the 5G networks in the communication space. They have even formed partnerships or acquiring contracts from major telecom operators across the globe to further advance the current 4G technology and make 5G a reality. As such, one of the popular smartphone manufacturers Samsung has been contributing extensively to the development of 5G technology. While the company has already conducted its first 5G fixed wireless access trial in the United Kingdom Samsung has announced it has started working on 5G technology at its research and development center in Bengaluru. Dipesh Shah, Managing Director of the Samsung R&D Institute in Bengaluru has confirmed this news while talking to Economic Times and he has also pointed out the fact that the facility in Bengaluru was Samsung's largest research and development center outside South Korea. Besides, Shah has highlighted that the center will be crucial in developing 5G related technologies and products. Samsung's R&D center in Bengaluru especially performs two distinct roles. The center develops features to address the needs of Indian consumers and mainly helps in using features like Bixby and Samsung Pay, and features in products like UDS and S-Bike which were developed here. The center also works on offering products and services in specific areas of multimedia and modem that has a global impact. Coming back to 5G, it is expected that the fifth generation of mobile networks will be standardized in 2020. However, for 5G to fully be functional there are several performance requirements as well as important applications that define how 5G will be developed. Thus Samsung India R&D team will be working on understanding the current technological trends in wireless communications towards 5G networks and it will also most likely be working closely with telecom operators mainly Reliance Jio (Infocomm) in developing 5G standards. Meanwhile, as it will take few more years to the commercialization of 5G technology it looks like Samsung is aiming to be at the forefront of this revolution or be a leader in this space. Samsung's R&D center in India will further be working alongside other R&D centers based in South Korea and other places in developing 5G technology. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Vodafone launches SuperWeek plan at Rs 69 News oi -Priyanka With Vodafone SuperWeek, customers can make unlimited local and STD calls to any network bundled with 500 MB data at just Rs. 69 for a week. In a bid to counter the ongoing disruption in the Indian telecom market, India's second largest telecom operator Vodafone today announced its new offer where the company is offering unlimited calling and loads of data at a never before price of Rs. 69. With Vodafone SuperWeek, customers can make unlimited local and STD calls to any network bundled with 500 MB data at just Rs. 69 for a week. The company has launched the similar plan in September this year in which users received 250 MB data along with unlimited calls at Rs. 87. However, at that time unlimited calling was only for Vodafone users while on another network they were allowed to call only for 100-minute. For this new offer prepaid users need to dial *444*87# if they want to activate the offer and this offer will be valid for seven days. Meanwhile, Vodafone and Micromax announced the launch of India's lowest priced 4G Smartphone with Vodafone SuperNet 4G connection for just Rs.999/-. Both existing and new Vodafone users will have to buy the smartphone priced at Rs.2,899 and will have to simply do a recharge of at least Rs 150/- per month for three years and at the end of 18 months, users will receive a cashback of Rs. 900/- and after another 18 months, a cashback of Rs. 1,000/- respectively, in their Vodafone M-Pesa wallets, enabling them to transact digitally or withdraw cash, as per their convenience. The new smartphone is powered by Spreadtrum SC9832 1.3Ghz quad-core processor coupled with 512 MB RAM and 4 GB internal storage. On the display front, the phone has a 4-inch WVGA screen. There is a 2 MP rear camera and 0.3 MP front-facing camera. The device also comes with different camera modes like scene, frame, and burst which at the entry level of smartphones is a feature that users will enjoy. The handset runs on Android Marshmallow with 1300 mAh battery and supports full video viewing, social networking, and chat apps to give a complete smartphone experience to users. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications US Senate panel renews law to allow online surveillance Iran Press TV Wed Oct 25, 2017 11:01AM The US Senate Intelligence Committee has reinstated a law that allows the National Security Agency to collect the communications of foreigners. In a 12-3 vote on Tuesday, the committee passed the mostly unchanged version of the so-called Section 702, which according to critics, will enable spy agencies to also scoop up and share Americans' private communications. The Senate, however, remains divided on the issue, with the House of Representatives making some proposals for harsher restrictions on surveillance, while some lawmakers seek provisions they claim will protect Americans' communications in a better way. "This bill reauthorizes our nation's most valuable intelligence collection authorities and ensures that the men and women of the intelligence committee and our law enforcement agencies have the tools and authorities they need to keep us safe," said Chairman Richard Burr. "It is a good compromise bill that addresses privacy and civil liberties concerns while maintaining a critical tool essential for our intelligence and law enforcement professionals to protect the nation," said Mark Warner of Virginia, the ranking Democrat on the committee. The bill would extend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act for another eight years after approval by Congress. Rights groups, like the American Civil Liberties Union, have blasted the motion as a breach of privacy, saying it does not contain enough safeguards. "The Senate Intelligence Committee's bill does nothing to improve the law and in some respects might even make it worse," said Elizabeth Goitein, co-director of the Liberty and National Security Program at the Brennan Center for Justice. "This is not reform. This is window-dressing." According to documents released by Edward Snowden, a former NSA contractor, the NSA has been collecting the phone records of millions of Americans and foreign nationals as well as political leaders from around the world. Snowden's release of NSA files has been called the most significant leak in US history. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Senate Intelligence Committee Approves Renewal of Online Spying Law Sputnik News 10:50 25.10.2017 The National Security Agency may restore spying program given the latest amendments. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) The US Senate Intelligence Committee has approved in a 12-3 vote, the renewal of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), something that could allow the National Security Agency's (NSA) to relaunch its online surveillance program. The committee's vote took place on Tuesday in a closed session. According to media reports, the lawmakers voted in favor of Senator Mark Warner's amendment, which proposes that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) should submit a request to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court if it obtains information on US citizens it wants to look into. The current version of the law, which allows the US intelligence community to target the communications of non-US citizens outside of the United States, expires at the end of the year. The Senate remains divided on the issue, while the House of Representatives has also voiced some proposals for harsher restrictions on surveillance. The House Judiciary Committee has suggested that the FBI should request a warrant to review any data obtained while looking for evidence. Some human rights advocates, such as the American Civil Liberties Union lambasted a draft of the Liberty Act, saying that it would leave Americans vulnerable to unlimited spying, especially journalists, government critics and activists. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Coalition Strikes Continue Against ISIS in Syria, Iraq From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release SOUTHWEST ASIA, Oct. 25, 2017 U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria yesterday, conducting seven strikes consisting of 13 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, two strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit in two engagements. Strikes in Iraq In Iraq, coalition military forces conducted five strikes consisting of 11 engagements against ISIS targets: -- Near Qaim, two strikes destroyed four supply routes and a vehicle-borne-bomb storage facility. -- Near Beiji, two strikes destroyed an ISIS-held building and a vehicle-borne-bomb factory. -- Near Qayyarah, a strike damaged two supply routes. Previous Strikes Additionally, three strikes consisting of three engagements were conducted in Beiji, Iraq, on Oct. 23 that closed within the last 24 hours. The strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed seven unmanned aerial vehicles. Part of Operation Inherent Resolve These strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to destroy ISIS in Iraq and Syria. The destruction of ISIS targets in Iraq and Syria also further limits the group's ability to project terror and conduct external operations throughout the region and the rest of the world, task force officials said. The list above contains all strikes conducted by fighter, attack, bomber, rotary-wing or remotely piloted aircraft; rocket-propelled artillery; and some ground-based tactical artillery when fired on planned targets, officials noted. Ground-based artillery fired in counterfire or in fire support to maneuver roles is not classified as a strike, they added. A strike, as defined by the coalition, refers to one or more kinetic engagements that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single or cumulative effect. For example, task force officials explained, a single aircraft delivering a single weapon against a lone ISIS vehicle is one strike, but so is multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against a group of ISIS-held buildings and weapon systems in a compound, having the cumulative effect of making that facility harder or impossible to use. Strike assessments are based on initial reports and may be refined, officials said. The task force does not report the number or type of aircraft employed in a strike, the number of munitions dropped in each strike, or the number of individual munition impact points against a target. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Dunford: Chiefs of Defense Counter-ISIS Meeting 'Historic' By Jim Garamone DoD News, Defense Media Activity FORT BELVOIR, Va., Oct. 25, 2017 Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford said the meeting here of more than 70 chiefs of defense at the Counter-Violent Extremist Organization Conference was a historic occasion. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff hosted the meeting so the chiefs could chart the progress in the struggle against violent extremists and look at ways to improve the strategies in the long war against the terrorists. Dunford; Brett McGurk, the president's special envoy for the global coalition to defeat ISIS; and Australian Army Col. David Kelly, an exchange officer on assignment to the Joint Staff, spoke to the press following the conference. During the meeting, the senior leaders from every part of the globe looked at the threats posed by extremist groups and examined strategies and tactics to combat them, the chairman said. The chiefs concluded "that we are dealing with a transregional threat and it is going to require more effective collective action by nations that are affected," Dunford said. Wide-Ranging Threat He noted that in Iraq and Syria the coalition saw more than 40,000 foreign fighters from 120 different countries. The chairman added that figure describes the range of the threat in a nutshell. The chiefs spoke mostly about the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, Dunford said, because they regard ISIS as the most virulent example of violent extremism in the world today. Still, he added, they envision the military network that has been built to combat ISIS will also deal with other transregional extremist threats as they arise. The key takeaway from the conference is that "the most effective action against these groups is local action, but local action has to be informed by the nature of the trans-regional aspect and so cooperation globally is important," the chairman said. But, he noted, global actions must be informed by local actions. Connections Violent extremists are connected by three things that Dunford calls the "connective tissue" of terrorism: foreign fighters, finances and the narrative. Cutting the connectivity between these groups is key to defeating them, the general said. Doing this will enable local forces to deal with the challenges posed by these groups, he said. One example is the five-month battle for Marawi in the Philippines, which the chiefs were briefed about yesterday, Dunford said. About 30 foreign fighters returned to the Mindanao region after fighting with ISIS and persuaded local extremist groups to pledge to ISIS and launch attacks in the city. "Small numbers of ISIS leaders are attempting to leverage local insurgencies," the chairman said. The coalition is seeing something similar in Africa, he said, where a number of local insurgencies rebranded themselves and pledged allegiance to ISIS. The chiefs discussed the movement of these individuals and the need for intelligence- and information-sharing within the coalition to stop them, Dunford said. Global Effort, Global Approach McGurk helps coordinate the whole-of-government approach to the campaign against violent extremism. He said the chiefs spoke a great deal during the meeting about all the efforts against ISIS, including the stabilization and humanitarian programs that are included in every military campaign. He also said foreign fighters trying to get into or out of Iraq and Syria has come to a near halt. "We believe we've cut their revenue down to the lowest level ever," he said. "Most interestingly today, we did a little walk around the globe, because it is not just about Iraq and Syria," McGurk said. "We had very detailed presentations of operations against ISIS in Marawi, in the Sahel, we talked about how we are tracking foreign fighters around the world and we had a very good presentation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia about the leading efforts that they have taken on to counter the narrative and leading the counter-messaging campaign in that part of the world." The chairman said the campaign against ISIS is at an "inflection point" and that all the chiefs discussed what's next. "One of the points that was made several times today is the need for the coalition to stay focused on Iraq and Syria for an enduring period of time," Dunford said. Counter-Messaging Defeating the narrative of the terror groups is one of the toughest nuts to crack, he said, but progress is being made. "I'm not complacent, but I am encouraged by how the success on the ground in translated into undermining the credibility of the narrative," the chairman said. "There have been some studies of young people who are radicalized and those numbers seem to go down. There are certainly indicators that fewer young people are being radicalized, and that's as a result of us being able to demonstrate what ISIS is. They can only behead so many people and treat people they way they did in Mosul and Raqqa before those stories came out." The Saudi counter-ISIS messaging effort now has 41 nations involved. "Clearly, credible Islamic voices are going to be the ones that matter most in countering the narrative of ISIS, and countering it and discrediting it for what it is," he said. With 75 nations and entities such as NATO and the African Union Mission in Somalia, there are some who think the coalition is too big, Kelly said. But the coalition thrives on the diversity of views the coalition offers, he noted. "What I bring to the Joint Staff, I feel, is a diversity of perspective," the colonel said. "It's that diversity of perspective that we are looking for in our planning. Can [the coalition] become too big? I don't think so. I think the price of admission is wanting to be a part of solving the problem." The coalition is not a formal alliance, nor does any nation want it to be one, Dunford said. It all comes down to helping local and regional forces handle their security problems, and sharing information and intelligence to sever the connective tissue and defeat the narrative. "The bigger the coalition is, the better," the chairman said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Defense Innovation Board Chair: Recommendations Making an Impact By Cheryl Pellerin DoD News, Defense Media Activity WASHINGTON, Oct. 25, 2017 Defense Innovation Board members yesterday discussed four potential new recommendations for the Defense Department and DIB Chairman Eric Schmidt, executive director of Alphabet Inc., said the members are starting to feel the board is having an impact on the department. The meeting, held in Arlington, Virginia, was the fifth public meeting since the board was established in October 2016. Joshua Marcuse, DIB executive director and an adjunct fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, introduced the members in attendance. Schmidt was joined by astrophysicist and author Neil deGrasse Tyson, California Institute of Technology Professor Richard Murray, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard President and Founding Director Eric Lander, United Technologies Senior Vice President for Science and Technology J. Michael McQuade, and Google Capital Access Services Vice President Milo Medin. Joining the meeting by telephone were Instagram Chief Operating Officer Marne Levine and Code for America Founder Jennifer Pahlka. The board invited military experts from each service to describe their efforts to create innovation cells and speed the process. And the members received an update on the science and technology subcommittee's work on software acquisition and reform guidance. Recommendations for DoD Since January, the DIB members have made 12 recommendations, which DoD officials now are reviewing. The recommendations are aimed at keeping the Defense Department on the cutting edge in technology, culture, operations and processes. "I'm quite optimistic that this model is working," Schmidt said during the meeting. "I think it shows a hunger for change, an interest in new things and a modernization process that matters a great deal. And the secretary of defense and his staff have been incredibly supportive of this whole maneuver." He added that since the board's last meeting in July in California's Silicon Valley, the members have made several DoD site visits, the most notable being U.S. Forces Japan and U.S. Forces Korea. "If you want to understand complexity," Schmidt said, "that's a great place to go visit and understand complex strategy, complex technology, complex personnel issues, and we were extremely well hosted there." During this meeting the members considered making four recommendations: -- Recommendation 13: Develop an accelerator to help the department move faster, make decisions quicker and reduce the time it takes to adapt to adversary moves, emerging technologies and surprises. -- Recommendation 14: Elevate new ideas in DoD, so that people who have great ideas receive executive sponsorship and go through a process that gives them the ability to put the ideas to work. -- Recommendation 15: Create a new career field focused on innovation, rapid capability development and acquisition data science and science, technology, engineering and math skill sets. -- Recommendation 16: Establish a training program to increase the effectiveness and velocity of technology adoption and integration within DoD. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Mattis: U.S., ASEAN Member Nations Address Shared Concerns By Cheryl Pellerin DoD News, Defense Media Activity WASHINGTON, Oct. 25, 2017 The United States is a firm supporter of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and its commitment to regional peace and stability, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said during a briefing with reporters traveling with him on his fourth trip to Asia during his current post. Mattis had just taken part in the ASEAN defense ministers meeting in the Philippines and was on his way to attend the Royal Cremation Rites of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej in Thailand. "The message I came here with is that we remain unambiguously committed to supporting ASEAN centrality and of course the rules-based international system and emphasizing respect for our shared value of sovereignty," he said. The meeting gave the participating nations a chance to address shared concerns, the secretary added. One of those concerns, he said, involves North Korea, also known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea or DPRK. Mattis said ASEAN's Sept. 7 statement about North Korea's provocations with ballistic missiles and its nuclear weapons program "clearly highlighted how all the nations look at DPRK's actions as outlaw actions threatening regional peace." The secretary added, "I carried the message that the more we do together today, the greater the chance for enduring peace in the future. That's really what it is all about, to keep DPRK efforts firmly in the diplomatic lane for resolution." The ASEAN member nations also addressed the growing threat of terrorism, Mattis said. The meeting's location in the Philippines, he said, was appropriate with regard to the terrorist threat in the region, since the Philippines went through a difficult time in late May when Marawi fell to terrorists. The meeting participants also discussed maritime security, the secretary said. "I think working together in this kind of a context of contributing to a free and open Indo-Pacific region [accelerates] economic development for all nations," Mattis said. A Dignified Leader On the way to Thailand, Mattis said he is honored to lead the U.S. presidential delegation and to pay respects and express condolences on behalf of the American people by attending the cremation rites for his majesty, the late king. King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Mattis said, "was born in Massachusetts. His father was a medical student and met with President [Dwight D.] Eisenhower." The king was a champion of the Thai people, and he was admired by everyone he came into contact with internationally, Mattis said. "He was a very dignified leader," the secretary said, "[and] he was a proponent of the long and friendly Thai-U.S. relationship. A very difficult time, I think, for the Thai people." Mattis said he visited Thailand for the first time in 1973. "Everywhere you went, there were shrines to the royal family in every restaurant, every store. The king was well known for his compassion. Most of the Thai people have known no other king. So we're honored to be going there to do this," the secretary said. After the ceremony in Thailand, the secretary will conclude his Asia trip with a visit to South Korea to co-chair the 49th Annual Security Consultative Meeting. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Army moving rapidly on plans for lightweight armored combat vehicle By Gary Sheftick, Army News Service October 25, 2017 WASHINGTON -- The Army will ask industry next month to provide proposals for a lightweight armored combat vehicle known as the Mobile Protected Firepower or MPF vehicle, and plans call for fielding the system under a rapid acquisition effort. Maj. Gen. David Bassett, the Army's program executive officer for Ground Combat Systems, said he hopes to cut bureaucracy on his programs and "do acquisition differently to deliver capability quickly." He spoke to reporters Oct. 10 at the Association of the U.S. Army Annual Meeting and Exposition, laying out a schedule for fielding the MPF. First, the MPF program skipped the normal two- or three-year technology development phase. A draft Request For Proposal, or RFP, went out at the end of September and feedback from potential MPF contractors was received this past week. The final RFP is scheduled to be issued in mid-November, Bassett said. March will be the deadline for MPF proposals and bid samples are to be delivered to test sites in April. The Army will be expecting to see some "mature technologies" on the sample vehicles, a spokesperson said, and may opt for some modified "off-the-shelf" technology to speed up delivery. The MPF vehicle will provide infantry brigade combat teams with a long-range direct-fire capability for forcible entry and breaching operations. It could very well have a 105mm gun up top, officials said, like the original Abrams tank. "I don't want to say it's a light tank, but it's kind of like a light tank," said David Dopp, MPF project lead. He was named program manager for the MPF in June. The MPF will be much lighter than a tank, though, weighing between 25 and 35 tons. Two of the armored vehicles should be able to be flown on a C-17 aircraft. "It's not going toe to toe with a tank," Dopp said. "It's for the infantry. It goes where the infantry goes --- it breaks through bunkers, it works through targets that the infantry can't get through." It will be a tracked vehicle with substantial armor protection, Bassett said, "but certainly not what you'd see on a main battle tank." Plans also call for it to have "cyber-resilient" capabilities. What it will not be capable of is a low-velocity air drop from a C-17, Bassett said. Protection and lethality requirements will probably make it heavier than what's acceptable for a C-17 air drop, he explained. The Russians have an armored vehicle that can be air-dropped, but Bassett said that vehicle doesn't have nearly the protection and lethality that the MPF will have. The MPF is also not the Next Generation Combat Vehicle, which may eventually replace the Abrams tank and Bradley. The MPF will fill a capability gap left when the M551 Sheridan Armored Reconnaissance/Airborne Assault Vehicle was retired from regular service in 1996. That vehicle served as a light tank accompanying infantry formations and after being pulled from the regular inventory, it was used for many years at the National Training Center as an opposing force, or OPFOR, armored vehicle. About the same time that the M551 was retired, the Army was developing an M-8 Armored Gun System to replace it. The AGS was eventually cancelled to free up funding for other programs. Requirements for the MPF are designed to enable freedom of movement and action for IBCTs, to expand lodgment and prevent counterattack, to defeat local fortifications, point defenses and blocking positions, and to maintain momentum of attack. "We're looking at awarding a contract in early FY19," Bassett said of the MPF. "We expect to be delivering prototypes off of that program effort within 15 months of contract award," he said, "and getting it in the hands of an evaluation unit six months after that -- rapid!" A recent program that serves as a model for rapid acquisition is the 30mm Stryker lethality program, Bassett said. The Strykers with 30mm cannons will be headed to Europe next month. "My task is what can I do to meet the chief's No. 1 priority, which is readiness," Basset said, referring to Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Mark Milley. "The Next Generation Combat Vehicle won't be fielded in 2022," he said, adding that it might reach a decision point then, but "I'm interested in what we can do in the meantime." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kansas National Guard helps build connection between U.S, Army and Kuwaiti forces By Staff Sgt. Tina Villalobos, 35th Infantry Division October 25, 2017 CAMP BEUHRING, 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. 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 Brigade 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 mid-day sky. Interoperability and the exchange of experiences was 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 six 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 a 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Department of Defense Press Operations News Transcript Presenter: Defense Secretary Jim Mattis October 25, 2017 Media Availability with Secretary Mattis en route to Thailand (UNKNOWN): (Off mic) SECRETARY OF DEFENSE JIM MATTIS: (Off mic) Again, this event I was at is called the A-D-D-M; A-D-M-M-Plus, where the ASEAN defense ministers have additional defense ministers in -- (inaudible) -- Australia, India, United States for example, Korea, Japan. And I'll just tell you, Sec Def Lorenzana with everything he has going on to take the brunt of something like this, this much international flavor at the same time -- you know, things are never done when they say they're done. In Marawi for example, a lot of things still going on. I thought he just did a very good job. You know, the message I came here with is that we remain unambiguously committed to supporting ASEAN centrality and of course the rules-based international system, which has to do with -- (inaudible) -- of the sea, you know, freedom of navigation, all the things all of you have covered for years out here, and emphasizing respect for our shared value of sovereignty. It gave us an opportunity for the Indo-Pacific nations to address shared concerns. And of course you know about their September 7th statement about DPRK's provocation with their ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons program, and I think that what was clearly highlighted there was how all the nations look at DPRK's actions as outlaw actions outside the law, threatening regional peace. And I carried the message that the more we do together today, the greater the chance for enduring peace in the future. And that's really what -- what it is all about, to keep DPRK efforts firmly in the diplomatic lane for resolution. I think, too, the participating nations addressed the growing threat of terrorism for obvious reasons. We're meeting in a country that's just been through a very difficult time, late May when Marawi fell to terrorists. But also we talked about maritime security in a region of many belts and many roads. I think working together in this kind of a context of contributing to a free and open Indo-Pacific region, accelerating economic development for all nations, (inaudible) -- really looking forward to Singapore taking over the chairmanship. They're a good nation that thinks strategically, got some serious thinkers there about how we resolve things with -- (inaudible). Now on our way to Thailand. I am honored to lead the U.S. presidential delegation and to pay our respects and express our condolences on behalf of the American people by attending the cremation rites for his majesty, the late king. You know, he was born in Massachusetts, his father was a medical student and met with President Eisenhower, this is about how far back this goes. Then LBJ -- (inaudible) -- Congress. And I would just tell you that he's a champion of the Thai people, I think he was admired by everyone internationally with who he came in contact. He was a very dignified leader. So understandably people revere him to this day, through the cremation day. And the -- a proponent of the long and friendly Thai-U.S. relationship. A very difficult time, I think, for the Thai people. I've been to Thailand before in my younger days; first here back in 1973, I believe it was. Somewhere back then. And everywhere you went, there were shrines to the royal family, every restaurant, every store and all. The king was well-known for his compassion. Most of the Thai people have known no other king. So we're honored to be going there to do this -- (inaudible) so questions coming out of -- out of the Philippines, are on our way to -- to Thailand. Q: Could you look ahead a little bit- talk to your visit in Korea? SEC. MATTIS: No, I'm really not ready to. You know the theme that will be there- the tension on the peninsula, and the fact that we stand fast with our allies. (inaudible) -- discussion while I'm there. Q: Will you be discussing the -- (inaudible)? SEC. MATTIS: Yeah, I'm really not ready to -- (inaudible). I'll try and meet with you all when I come out of Thailand, when I have time to be real focused in my remarks here. But it's -- you know, it's our ROK-U.S. alliance thought-leading bilateral forum. And this is taking just constant collaboration, coordination and integration -- (inaudible). Q: Can I ask you, though, in the context of the meetings you had in the Philippines, did you get any sense with the defense ministers you spoke to kind of a fatalistic feeling that the North Koreans will not be persuaded to change their course? SEC. MATTIS: I had more of a sense that they -- that everyone was --understands the very serious -- (inaudible). But I did not pick up fatalist. A number of people talked about hoping diplomatic efforts will work, that sanctions will cause them to change course. Q: I mean, on this -- on that same point, I mean -- SEC. MATTIS: I'm not ready to talk much about Korea- I'm just going to tell you... Q: No, on that same point at ASEAN, you know, in the statement, they talked about a peaceful resolution of the crisis. SEC. MATTIS: Sure. Q: But, you know, this is a gathering of defense ministers, whose job it is to prepare for, you know, alternatives to, the alternatives on our end. SEC. MATTIS: We've been blunt out of Washington, D.C., with Secretary Tillerson being sent to Beijing by the president and all. We are out for a peaceful resolution. Do we have military options in defense if we're attacked, our allies are attacked? Of course we do. But everyone is out for a peaceful resolution. Q: And did you sense -- SEC. MATTIS: Not rushing to war. Q: Did you sense anxiety among the ASEAN members about, you know, whether or not the rhetoric out of Washington might suggest imminent threats? SEC. MATTIS: No. Q: Thank you for your time with us. (Inaudible). SEC. MATTIS: It's a great question, Katrina. I -- I just tell you, I don't speculate, I need to see what kind of statements come out and see what kind of policies come out of this. Right now, I'm taking a wait and see to see how it goes, see what I can pick up. So when we -- go ahead. Q: On China -- (Off mic). SEC. MATTIS: We've been very clear that we're going to steam, sail, fly in international airspace, international waters. And I think everyone in (inaudible) is dependent on the rules-based architecture that's allowed them to economically port the way they have over the last decade. And the strongest argument for freedom of navigation is that very reality. So I think that the economic realities are the statements of support for freedom of navigation. We've been very clearly of our view of militarization -- (inaudible). Q: (inaudible) -- the public statement that came out of the trilateral with Korea and Japan mentioned, you know, kind of new levels, potentially, of intel-sharing, more fly- joint multiple flyovers (inaudible). Is there anything you can do to stand on record about what you guys discussed and maybe agreed to? SEC. MATTIS: No, that's pretty much what we agreed to. Now we've got to do the -- roll up our sleeves and do the pragmatic planning and coordination and putting that side together, and all. Q: You want to do just off the record? SEC. MATTIS: Yeah, I don't have a whole lot of time. I've got (to shift over here and there's some other things I've got brewing right now back in Washington. Q: Can I do one more sir? Two part question. Do you think that China and Russia were put in the Philippines, or the Philippines (inaudible) what's the significance (inaudible)? (OFF-MIC) SEC. MATTIS: I don't attach very much significance, Janet. I know some trucks are done being dropped off to help the country that's fighting terrorists right now. I don't, you know, put a lot of significance to it. It's a sovereign decision by the Philippines. At the same time, in my private meeting -- or my bilateral meeting, not private -- bilateral meeting with President Duterte -- it was a very straightforward, even warm meeting, that talked about the depth of our mil-to-mil relationship and our collaboration together against a common enemy. So it's really not a big issue, I don't think, that other nations are also coming to their help (inaudible). http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Transcripts/Transcript-View/Article/1353602/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Department of Defense Press Operations News Release No. NR-370-17 October 25, 2017 Readout of Secretary Mattis' Meeting with Malaysian Minister of Defense Hishammuddin Tun Hussein Pentagon Chief Spokesperson Dana W. White provided the following readout. Oct. 25, 2017 Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis met today with Malaysian Minister of Defense Hishammuddin Tun Hussein on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) convened in Clark, the Philippines. The secretary and Minister Hishammuddin exchanged views on regional security and emphasized the need for continued ASEAN centrality to address shared security challenges facing Southeast Asia. The two leaders discussed the importance of a free and open Indo-Asian Pacific that safeguards freedom of navigation through a rules-based international order. Secretary Mattis and Minister Hishammuddin agreed on the importance of close counter terrorism cooperation in order to stem the threat posed from groups like ISIS and to address the threat posed by returning foreign fighters from the Middle East. Secretary Mattis relayed his appreciation for the broad range of U.S.-Malaysia security cooperation and praised Malaysia's valuable contributions to regional security. They emphasized continued cooperation in maritime domain awareness and information sharing to address common threats to regional security. http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Releases/News-Release-View/Article/1353360/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Department of Defense Press Operations News Release No. NR-369-17 October 25, 2017 Readout of Secretary Mattis' Meeting with Philippine Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana Pentagon Chief Spokesperson Dana W. White provided the following readout: Oct. 25, 2017 Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis met Oct. 24 with Philippine Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) convened in Clark, the Philippines. The two leaders discussed the depth and breadth of the U.S.-Philippines relationship, including the enduring people-to-people ties between the two nations. Secretary Mattis reaffirmed the United States' ironclad commitment to the U.S.-Philippines Alliance and the importance of strengthening defense capabilities through regular bilateral training and exercises. Secretary Mattis and Secretary Lorenzana exchanged views on regional security and emphasized the need for continued ASEAN unity to uphold a rules-based international order, and a free and open Indo-Pacific. Each emphasized a commitment to cooperation in maritime domain awareness and information sharing to address common threats to regional security. The two defense secretaries discussed the importance of U.S.-Philippines cooperation to defeat violent extremism and terrorism posed from groups like ISIS and address the threat posed by returning foreign fighters. Secretary Mattis congratulated the Philippines on their recent counterterrorism successes and major progress retaking the city of Marawi from ISIS militants this past week. The Secretary offered condolences to the people and Armed Forces of the Philippines for their heavy sacrifices during the five month campaign, and reaffirmed that the U.S. stands with the Philippines in their fight against terrorism. http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Releases/News-Release-View/Article/1353358/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Department of Defense Press Operations News Release No. NR-368-17 October 25, 2017 Readout of Secretary Mattis' Meeting with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte Pentagon Chief Spokesperson Dana W. White provided the following readout: Oct. 25, 2017 Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis met Oct. 24 with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) that convened in Clark, the Philippines. They discussed the strength of the U.S.-Philippines relationship and Secretary Mattis reaffirmed our ironclad commitment to the U.S.-Philippines Alliance. Secretary Mattis and President Duterte exchanged views on the importance of maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific built on the foundations of a shared rules-based international order. Secretary Mattis reaffirmed U.S. resolve to stand by its long-time ally in their fight against the spread of ISIS in Southeast Asia. Secretary Mattis also offered his condolences for the sacrifices and heavy price that Philippine security forces paid bringing the 5-month conflict to an end in Marawi. Their success could not have been achieved without the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), who went to extraordinary lengths to safeguard the lives of innocent civilians caught in the conflict or held hostage by ISIS militants. The U.S. remains committed to enduring counterterrorism cooperation with the Philippines against this violent terrorist ideology to prevent its adherents from gaining a foothold elsewhere in the Philippines. http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Releases/News-Release-View/Article/1353353/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Nimitz Carrier Strike Group Enters 7th Fleet Navy News Service Story Number: NNS171025-04 Release Date: 10/25/2017 9:48:00 AM By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Cole Schroeder ARABIAN GULF (NNS) -- The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) with embarked Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 11 and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11, and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 9 arrived in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations (AOO) Oct. 25, after concluding operations in U.S. 5th Fleet. While in 7th Fleet, the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (NIMSG) is scheduled for a port visit and will be ready to support operations throughout the AOO before transiting back to their respective homeports. "The impressive dedication and resolute commitment to professionalism by the Nimitz crew while supporting day and night flight operations as well as the dedication our cruisers and destroyers was vital to promoting the free flow of commerce and enhancing our ties with allies and partners," said Rear Adm. Gregory Harris, commander of CSG-11. "They performed flawlessly in extremely austere conditions maintaining an incredible spirit that was awe-inspiring. 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." The NIMSG departed 5th Fleet with the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59) and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Howard (DDG 83), USS Shoup (DDG 86), USS Pinckney (DDG 91) and USS Kidd (DDG 100) after contributing to Operation Inherent Resolve for three months as part of a regularly scheduled deployment. This deployment is an example of the U.S. Navy's commitment to stability, maritime cooperation and economic success for all nations. Nimitz is currently on a regularly scheduled deployment in the U.S. 7th Fleet AOO. The U.S. Navy has patrolled the Indo-Asia Pacific routinely for more than 70 years promoting regional peace and security. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address USS Donald Cook Departs Cherbourg, France Navy News Service Story Number: NNS171025-01 Release Date: 10/25/2017 8:40:00 AM By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Theron J. Godbold CHERBOURG, France (NNS) -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) departed Cherbourg, France, after a scheduled port visit Oct. 22. This was Donald Cook's fourth port visit during their sixth forward-deployed patrol. While in Cherbourg, Donald Cook held an officer call with French officials, conducted a community relations project and received supplies. "We had a great port visit in Cherbourg," said Cmdr. Kelley Jones, executive officer of Donald Cook. "The Sailors of Donald Cook showed what a true ambassador looks like and helped to strengthen our relationship with France. The crew enjoyed the rich history of Normandy and surrounding areas, thus we look forward to the next time we are back in Cherbourg." This was Donald Cook's first port visit after successfully completing exercise Formidable Shield 2017 where the ship's crew was successful in launching a Standard Missile 3, proving the U.S. Navy's capability of conducting ballistic missile defense in the region. U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa. Naval Forces Europe will defend the U.S. and allies, deter aggression, and reaffirm the NATO alliance. It is imperative that we demonstrate vigilance and resilience while enabling enduring relationships. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address USS Shoup Builds Multinational Partnerships During Intrepid Sentinel Navy News Service Story Number: NNS171025-07 Release Date: 10/25/2017 11:07:00 AM By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Maria Alvarez, USS Shoup (DDG 86) Public Affairs GULF OF OMAN (NNS) -- A multinational trio of ships conducted the trilateral exercise Intrepid Sentinel in the Gulf of Oman, Oct. 20-21. The U.S. Navy's guided-missile destroyer USS Shoup (DDG 86), the U.K. Royal Navy's Duke-class frigate HMS Monmouth (F 235), and the French Marine Nationale's anti-air destroyer FS Jean Bart (D 615) participated in the exercise. Intrepid Sentinel is designed to increase interoperability between the three nations and reduce response time to establish a coordinated international maritime coalition with in order to counter the complex challenges in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations. "This was a great exercise," said Cmdr. Ted Wiederholt, commanding officer aboard Shoup. "This exercise brought together the United Kingdom, French, and U.S. navies in an operational environment where we successfully built proficiency across multiple warfare areas, strengthened already strong naval relationships, and built new personal relationships that allowed all of us improved warfighting integration." During the exercise, the ships conducted multiple operations that branched into the air, and undersea and surface warfare areas. The multinational trio was involved in an air defense exercise, a combined anti-submarine exercise, a visit, board, search and seizure event and a photo exercise. "This exercise provided an opportunity to demonstrate our professionalism while warfighting together in this area, said French Marine Nationale Lt. Denis Giraudion, Jean Bart's air defense officer and air intercept officer. "It was a pleasure to visit USS Shoup after a one-month deployment with Carrier Strike Group 11." Intrepid Sentinel helped improve the warfighting integration of allies to optimize combat effectiveness and efficiency against conventional and irregular threats. "Intrepid Sentinel has provided a great opportunity to practice working together as friends and allies said U.K. Royal Navy Sub-Lt. Alfred Pace, Monmouth's 2nd officer of the watch. "It helped us understand how each country's navy operates to better our chances of winning at sea." Monmouth's leadership agreed this collaboration at sea was beneficial to everyone involved. "Interoperability with key partner nations is critical to conducting operations," said U.K. Royal Navy Cmdr. Ian Feasey, Monmouth's commanding officer. "Exercise Intrepid Sentinel has allowed us to hone and refine our collective fighting capability, ensuring we remain at high readiness to provide a multinational response to emerging situations or crises." Shoup is deployed in the 5th Fleet area of operations (AOO) with Nimitz Carrier Strike Group conducting maritime security operations to reassure allies and partners, preserve freedom of navigation, and maintain the free flow of commerce. The U.S. 5th Fleet AOO encompasses about 2.5 million square miles of water area and includes the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean. The expanse comprises 20 countries and includes three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal and the Strait of Bab al Mandeb at the southern tip of Yemen. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Nimitz Plays Vital Role in Operation Inherent Resolve Navy News Service Story Number: NNS171025-08 Release Date: 10/25/2017 11:47:00 AM By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Kennishah Maddux, USS Nimitz (CVN 68) Public Affairs Office ARABIAN SEA (NNS) -- The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) has performed a vital role in Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) since July 25, having launched 1,322 sorties and dropping 903 pieces of ordnance in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations. Throughout more than three months of operations in the region, the ship and its crew have worked hard supporting the mission by building 1,112 pieces of ordnance and working day and night on the flight deck. It's a team effort by the entire crew, air wing and embarked staffs aboard the ship. "Carrier Strike Group 11, (Destroyer Squadron) DESRON-9, Nimitz, the air wings... all of us work together very closely," said Capt. Michael Spencer commander, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11. "The teamwork that we have here is really amazing to see. The enthusiasm throughout the operation is inspiring to watch. It's a pleasure to work with them every day." Thanks to the hard work of each individual aboard, whether on the flight desk or inside the skin of the ship, Nimitz's time in the Arabian Gulf has been a successful one, according to Spencer. "We really have done some amazing things," said Spencer. "When it's over, I will look back fondly at how well this team worked together and how effective we were when we were over here." It takes an immense amount of provisions to sustain the crew while performing in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations. So far, the Nimitz crew has received more than 7,597 pallets of supplies. Of these provisions, the hungry Marines and Sailors have consumed more than 12,000 pounds of hamburgers, 69,000 cookies and washed it all down with over 16,000 gallons of milk. Hungry not just for food but also for a taste of home, the team has received 1,462 pallets of mail. Weighing in at over 160,820 pounds, the deliveries consist of care packages and letters from friends and families, boosting the morale of the crew aboard. While in the region, Nimitz Medical Department has treated 3,071 Sailors and Marines, and they also performed 40 surgeries on board. Despite the department's busy schedule, they still found time to get 436 Sailors CPR certified. The crew spent time in Bahrain and Dubai during port visits. For these ports, the Morale Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Department sold approximately 1,400 tour tickets to the Sailors and Marines onboard. These tours included adventures such as riding camels in the desert, experiencing the world's fastest roller coaster and gazing out the window of the tallest building in the world at 2,722 feet. The crew took advantage of the hotel services coordinated through MWR, booking an estimated 2,000 hotel rooms while in the two ports. Sailors and Marines have taken part in 13 volunteer events during their time in the region helping those in need. This outreach included helping local schools, as well as providing assistance to both a dog kennel and a horse farm. "Operating in this region in the middle of summer presented some extreme challenges, but every single member of the crew not only stepped up but exceled beyond any expectation I could have set," CVW-11 Command Master Chief Petty Officer Brian Happli. "I feel fortunate to be part of such a resilient crew while carrying out our role in Operation Inherent Resolve. We would not be a successful air wing without the tremendous support we receive from the entire Strike Group 11 team. I know the same level of enthusiasm and commitment to excellence that has been demonstrated since we left San Diego will continue as we move forward in this deployment." Sailors and Marines are continuing to focus on the mission and what they must accomplish going forward. "The work isn't over," said Happli. As the days continue to pass and the role for Nimitz CSG evolves, the focus for the crew remains the same: to safely and efficiently perform each task in accordance to their unyielding commitment to the mission. Nimitz deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to provide maritime security and support Operation Inherent Resolve. While in this region, the ship and strike group have conducted strike missions to annihilate Islamic State group as well as operations to reassure allies and partners, preserve freedom of navigation and maintain the free flow of commerce. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US, Dutch and German Navies Conduct Expeditionary Mine Countermeasures Exercise Navy News Service Story Number: NNS171025-10 Release Date: 10/25/2017 12:16:00 PM By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Charles Oki, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2 Public Affairs CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (NNS) -- Sailors from the U.S. Navy, Royal Netherlands Navy and German Navy completed a week-long Expeditionary Mine Countermeasures (ExMCM) training evolution as part of Exercise Bold Alligator 2017 (BA17), Oct. 23. The combined ExMCM force had members from the Royal Netherlands Navy Defense Dive Group Very Shallow Water (VSW) Dive Platoon, German Navy Mine Clearance Diving Company and U.S. Navy ExMCM Company 202, a combined unit comprised of Sailors from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 2 MCM platoon, Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2 unmanned systems platoon and the Naval Oceanographic Mine Warfare Center (NOMWC) post-mission analysis cell. BA17 is a live, events-driven exercise featuring U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and partner nation forces. The exercise provides the Navy and Marine Corps team tactical level training for amphibious operations which are core requirement to maritime power projection. The exercise incorporates amphibious, carrier strike group, air wing and ExMCM operations to provide a rigorous training environment for the combined forces. "Even with the modification in breadth, BA17 has been a great opportunity for us to practice ExMCM in a joint operational environment," said Lt. Mike Collier, officer in charge of ExMCM Company 202. The scope of the exercise was modified because of U.S. and partner nation efforts in the wake of hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. "Our mission was to clear the shallow, littoral waters consisting of three boat lanes that were 500 yards wide by three nautical miles long of any possible mines laid by simulated enemy forces," Collier said. "We were able to complete all our taskings and meet our timeline of three days while integrating with the Dutch and German navies. Operationally, it was a huge success." During the three-day training evolution, the ExMCM force was tasked to clear a path for amphibious forces to conduct an amphibious assault on the beach. The three-day training evolution evaluated the ExMCM force's ability to execute a detect-to-engage sequence. U.S. and Dutch teams used unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) side-scan sonar to find potential mine-like objects before sending out the Dutch VSW divers or the U.S. Seabotix Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) to confirm whether the objects were mines. "Being able to take part in an exercise in a proper amphibious scenario with real ships and equipment with real Marines landing ashore has been very beneficial," said Netherlands Marine Corps Capt. Rick In De Braekt, officer in charge of the Royal Netherlands Navy VSW platoon. "We were lucky to be able to work with our U.S. counterparts because there is a lot of knowledge that we have been able to exchange during the exercise. Our units have a lot of unique lessons that have been learned over time, so we are all leaving here as more capable units." EOD Group (EODGRU) 2, headquartered at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story in Virginia Beach, oversees all East Coast-based Navy EOD mobile units, including one forward-deployed mobile unit in Spain, as well as EOD Expeditionary Support Unit (EODESU) 2, EOD Training and Evaluation Unit (EODTEU) 2 and Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2. U.S. Navy EOD is the world's premier combat force for countering explosive hazards and conducting expeditionary diving and salvage. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Boko Haram leader's wife killed in Nigeria airstrike: military Iran Press TV Wed Oct 25, 2017 06:34PM The Nigerian military says it is investigating reports that one of the wives of Abubakar Shekau, the leader of the Boko Haram Takfiri group, has been killed in a recent airstrike. "Efforts are ongoing to confirm the reported killing of Shekau's wife, alongside other BHTs (Boko Haram terrorists)," said air force spokesman Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya on Tuesday, six days after an attack on Boko Haram militants near Urga in the Konduga area in Borno state. Adesanya said the air raid on October 19 targeted "a large gathering of Boko Haram terrorists" at the Durwawa settlement. He added that the attack killed scores of militants on the ground and triggered a fire. The official said that Shekau's wife, identified as Fitdasi, was "reported to have been representing her husband in a coordinating meeting with other terrorists at the location of the airstrikes". Fitdasi was thought to be one of Shekau's four wives. Nigerian army arrested another wife, Hassana Yakubu, in a raid in the northeastern city of Damaturu in 2012. She was released a year later along with the wives of several other top commanders of Boko Haram. One of other wives of Shekau is a widow of Muhammad Yusuf, the founder and former leader of Boko Haram who died in custody in 2009. Under Shekau's leadership which began after Yusuf's death, Boko Haram has led an insurgency in northern Nigeria and neighboring countries that has left around 20,000 people dead. Hundreds of thousands have also been displaced in the violence. The Nigerian military claims its massive operations which began two years ago has made Boko Haram a spent force as the group has withdrawn from its major strongholds in Borno. However, the government still struggles to contain sporadic attacks that mostly target civilians in crowded places. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Eleven troops killed as Taliban storm army bases in Afghanistan Iran Press TV Wed Oct 25, 2017 05:11PM Militants have launched coordinated attacks on two military bases in two neighboring provinces in western Afghanistan, leaving at least 11 soldiers dead and several others injured. In the first attack, militants stormed a security post on Tuesday night in Pusht Road district of Farah province. At least nine soldiers were killed and four others were injured. Mohammad Naser Mehri, a spokesman for the governor of Farah province, said an intense four-hour gunfight followed the attack and included the use of artillery against the army. At least 17 Taliban militants were killed after Afghan warplanes were deployed to repel the assault. Separately in neighboring Herat province, also on Tuesday night, militants targeted an army post in Kushki Kuhna district. Two soldiers were killed and five others were injured. According to the military spokesman in Herat, Najibullah Najibi, the attack lasted several hours with the army succeeding in pushing back the militants. The Taliban suffered "heavy casualties" in the ensuing fierce clashes. Taliban militants have intensified attacks all across Afghanistan, with the last two weeks being particularly deadly for Afghan forces. Last Thursday, a Taliban assault on a military compound left 43 soldiers dead in the southern province of Kandahar. The militants have warned that there will be no letup in their attacks until foreign forces fully withdraw from Afghanistan. Infighting kills nearly 50 militants in northern Afghanistan Afghan officials also reported intense clashes between Taliban and rival militants from the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group in the country's troubled north. The fighting took place on Monday and Tuesday in the northern province of Jawzjan. Faqir Mohammad Jawzjani, the provincial police chief, said the fighting left six Daesh terrorists and 42 Taliban militants dead. The casualties came after Daesh launched a massive attack on Taliban positions in several locations, capturing several villages from the Taliban in two districts. Afghanistan is still suffering from insecurity and violence years after the United States and its allies invaded the country as part of Washington's so-called war on terror. The invasion removed the Taliban from power, but militancy continues to this day. Taking advantage of the chaos, Daesh has also emerged in Afghanistan. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Twitter Says Will Disclose Who's Behind Political Ads Amid Russia Probes RFE/RL October 25, 2017 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 Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/twitter- says-will-disclose-who-behind- political-ads-amid-russian-election- influence-investigations/28814277.html Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Some Bulgarian Pilots Refuse To Fly Russian MiG-29 Jets, Citing Safety Concerns October 25, 2017 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 Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/bulgaria -pilots-refuse-fly-russian- mig29-jets-citing-safety- concerns-nato/28814272.html Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pentagon Believes Niger Villager Tipped Off Daesh Militants to US Troop Location Sputnik News 22:07 25.10.2017 The US military suspects that residents of a nearby Nigerien village colluded with the Daesh-affiliated ambushers that killed four Americans and four Nigerien troops at the beginning of October. The joint forces stopped in the village several hours before the ambush, and it is believed that a resident of the town may have alerted the militants. A senior defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity to Stripes, said that a dozen US troops and about 30 Nigeriens were patrolling an area close to the Niger-Mali border. They were assisting a separate US commando team in their hunt for a senior member of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) believed to be operating in the area. AQIM, the North African branch of al-Qaeda, has perpetrated bloody terrorist acts such as the 2016 assault on a hotel and restaurant in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, that left 30 civilians dead. The assignment was routine enough, according to the Pentagon: Joint Staff Director Lt. Gen. Kenneth McKenzie told reporters earlier in October that US-Nigerien forces had "done 29 patrols without contact over the previous six months or so." The patrollers found that the AQIM officer had left the area, and so they began to collect evidence where he had been last seen to potentially determine where he had gone. Because engagement seemed unlikely, the official said, the troops were on low alert. The next morning, the Nigerien-American joint patrol stopped at a village called Tongo-Tongo that is about 50 miles north of Niamey. The troops resupplied and met with tribal leaders, as a leader of a local militia who had pledged his allegiance to Daesh was thought to have been there in the past. Speaking to ABC News, a US soldier who survived the ambush said that a village elder was "definitely stalling as long as he could to keep us there." The survivor claimed that the elder showed them his entourage, a child with an illness, and even a "goat [that] he wanted to prepare for them." According to Stripes' source, it's at this point that a village resident was likely tipping off the Daesh offshoot group about the patrol. The patrol sallied forth once more, but as they continued their investigation they came under attack by a new Daesh branch: the self-proclaimed Islamic State in the Sahel. The 50-strong Daesh militants, who are not believed to be connected to the AQIM officer that the patrol was searching for, charged in on motorcycles and attacked the patrol with rocket-propelled grenades and heavy machine guns. But three weeks after the ambush, many questions remain unanswered about what happened. One of significance is why the Green Berets were part of the patrol at all. Under the rules of engagement agreed upon by both nations, US troops may accompany local forces on missions when "the chances of enemy contact are unlikely." And yet in this instance, enemy contact occurred, the bloodiest for US troops in Africa in a quarter of a century. Furthermore, it is unclear who authorized the change in the mission's parameters, from searching for the AQIM commander to intelligence gathering. It also took almost two days to recover the body of Sgt. La David Johnson, who went missing during the engagement for unknown reasons. "Johnson's equipment might have been taken," an intelligence official told ABC News on Friday. "From what we now know, it didn't seem like he was kidnapped and killed. He was somehow physically removed from where the combat took place." The official added that the locator beacon on Johnson's clothes gave unclear reports, and that he seemed to be moving. Gen. Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters on Monday that US forces didn't call for air support until an hour into the battle. He said that this was because the Green Berets thought that they could manage the situation without assistance. On Tuesday, Dunford declined to provide any details about the change in the mission, but he did say that an investigation was ongoing and new information would be released; first to the families of the slain soldiers, then to the public. In response to other questions, Dunford said the military was looking into was whether the US troops had adequate intelligence, equipment and training. "When the investigation is complete, we will know the full details," he said on Monday. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Risky Business? Finland Doubles Arms Exports, Gambles on Middle East Sputnik News 12:25 25.10.2017(updated 12:26 25.10.2017) In the past 15 years, Finland's arms exports have skyrocketed and undergone a change of pattern. The Middle East is becoming a focal point for Finnish weapons manufacturers, to the dismay of local peace activists, who consider it unbecoming of a nation that styles itself a mediator. Between 2002 and 2016, Finland's exports of military equipment have doubled, according to a recent report from independent think-tank Safer Globe. Over these years, Finland has sold military equipment to the tune of 1.5 billion ($1.76 billion), coupled with a 700 million ($822 million) worth of weapons for civilian purposes, such as hunting weapons. The export of arms and defense equipment is part of Finland's foreign and security policy. Between 2003 and 2016, the government and the Defense Ministry have granted some 3,000 export licenses for military equipment. As far back as 2003, North America and Europe were the most important export destinations, but in recent years the Middle East has started overtake these traditional buyers, accounting for 63 percent of Finland's total arms export. In 2016 alone, Finland sold armored vehicles to the United Arab Emirates for over 60 million ($70 million), following a much sought-after 2007 arms deal. All in all, armored vehicles constitute 38.2 percent of the total exports, which is attributed to the high cost of a single vehicle compared to other types of military equipment, Finnish national broadcaster Yle reported. In the Middle East, Finland exports most military equipment to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, all the three of which have participated in operations associated with the civil wars in Yemen and Syria. Peace Organizations Worried Finland's peace organizations Peace Union and Committee of 100 were shocked to learn that arms exports from Finland were on the rise. "Exporting arms to the Middle East contributes to instability in the area and does not increase security. <> An increase in arms exports is not a suitable solution for a country that wants to profile itself as a peacekeeper," the organizations said in their joint statement, quoted by the Finnish daily Hufvudstadsbladet. The Finnish pacifists also expressed concern about local arms manufacturer Patria's attempts to broker a 100 million deal with Qatar, which involves armored vehicles and grenade launchers and may become, if successful, Finland's largest arms deal. "Non-democratic Qatar, a country in the midst of Mid-Eastern political conflict, accused of supporting terrorists and participating in the Yemeni conflict, is a prime example of a country that should not even be considered as a recipient of arms," Laura Lodenius of the Peace Union of Finland said. According to a survey conducted by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), from 2012-2016 exports of defense equipment to the Middle East have increased by 86 percent. Defense Minister Jussi Niinisto noted an increase in the number of applications for export authorizations in Finland, admitting the government's role as promoter of the arms trade. Niinisto stated that arms deals with Saudi Arabia and the UAE have been finalized and will be completed. "Arms deals take a long time to prepare and we have worked hard to get into the markets in the Middle East," Jussi Niinisto said, as quoted by Yle. Despite the fact that Finland's export figures may be easily dwarfed by major arms manufacturers such as the US, the Nordic country of 5.5 million nevertheless placed 13th on the list of weapons exporters per capita, according to Safer Globe. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia Provides Philippines With Batch of Military Equipment Sputnik News 08:03 25.10.2017(updated 08:44 25.10.2017) Russia has donated a batch of military equipment to the Philippines, including small arms, munition and military trucks, following an intergovernmental agreement signed between Moscow and Manila on defense industry cooperation. MANILA (Sputnik) The military equipment delivery ceremony was held aboard the Russian Pacific Fleet's Admiral Panteleyev destroyer and was attended by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte. The military batch reportedly contained nearly 5,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles, about 1 million cartridges and 20 military trucks. The Philippines faces certain problems in purchasing new weapons from the United States as Washington imposes specific trade conditions on Manila. In May, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte expressed Manila's interest in advanced Russian weapons, including helicopters, planes, as well as precision-guided weapons to help combat the terror threat. According to the Philippine ambassador, Manila could sign a series of arms delivery contracts with Moscow by the end of the year. Manila has also shown interest in Russia's anti-terror equipment amid the ongoing operation against a Daesh-linked terrorist group. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Interview: McMaster on Iran, Iraq, Syria and the Kurdish Issue By Alhurra October 25, 2017 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kenyan Election to Go Ahead as Scheduled By VOA News October 25, 2017 Kenya's re-run presidential election will continue as scheduled, after the country's Supreme Court was unable to hold a hearing to consider postponing it. "Based on assurances given to this commission by the relevant authorities and security agencies, the election as scheduled will go ahead tomorrow, the 26th of October," said Wafula Chebukati, head of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission. But Kenya's opposition leader Raila Odinga, who dropped out of the re-run earlier this month, called for a "resistance movement" to boycott the elections Wednesday. Odinga urged his supporters to "look upon their brothers and sisters with suspicion." "Do not assault them, open their eyes to the injustices we all suffer," he said, also stating that the National Super Alliance (NASA) will be gathering all the country's progressive forces so that free, fair and credible elections can be organized within 90 days. Earlier Wednesday, Chief Justice David Maraga said only two of the Supreme Court's seven judges were present for a vote to postpone the elections a day earlier, falling short of the five that are required. A judge also ruled that appointments of electoral officers for Thursday's election were done illegally. Kenya's election commission said the appointments were still valid and that the officers "will conduct the fresh presidential elections" on Thursday. Thursday's vote is Kenya's second try this year to elect a president. The Supreme Court threw out the results of the August 8 election because of what it called "irregularities and illegalities." VOA's Jill Craig contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Army Africa pushing more support to Lake Chad Basin to reinforce US stability efforts By Sean Kimmons, Army News Service October 26, 2017 WASHINGTON -- U.S. Army Africa is boosting its security efforts across the Lake Chad Basin this year to deter extremist groups and help embolden nations in the distressed region, the acting commander said. A lifeline for many in the region, Lake Chad has drastically shrunk due to inefficient damming and irrigation methods. Today, the lake is just about 10 percent of what it was in the 1960s. "That's putting a lot of stress on the livelihood of the 40 million people that live in that area," said Brig. Gen. Eugene J. LeBoeuf. The emergence of extremist groups, such as Boko Haram and an Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group in West Africa linked to an ambush that killed four Special Forces Soldiers Oct. 4, has also fueled instability. Roughly 7 million people are now internally displaced or refugees in the area, a number that continues to grow on a daily basis, he said. To help stabilize the region, the command is increasing its theater security cooperation activities, which can range from providing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support as well as logistics and counter-improvised explosive device training to host nation militaries. In fiscal year 2018, the command expects to conduct 271 such activities -- a 20 percent jump from the year before -- in addition to its four major "Accord" exercises and routine medical readiness training events. About 80 percent of the upcoming activities will involve the countries in the Lake Chad Basin: Niger, Nigeria, Chad and Cameroon. "That's where our focus lies primarily in building that capacity for our host nations to be able to do those operations themselves," he said earlier this month in an interview at the Association of the U.S. Army Annual Meeting and Exposition. One such mission is at Contingency Location Garoua in northern Cameroon, where a U.S. Army-led task force is using unmanned aerial vehicles to deliver ISR capabilities to the Cameroonian military to support its fight against Boko Haram. Many USARAF activities on the continent fit into its priority of setting the theater, which is intended to make it easier for U.S. forces to arrive in a country when an emergency occurs. This kind of strategic readiness became helpful in Liberia during the Ebola virus outbreak in 2014, which went on to kill thousands of people in the small West African nation. Using relationships already forged by the Michigan Army National Guard, as part of USARAF's state partnership program, U.S. forces were quickly able to gain access in Liberia to help slow the spread of the deadly virus, the general said. "You can't surge trust," he said. "In an emergency or crisis it's too late to establish trust in a relationship. You have to do that in advance." Those connections could also be beneficial if Americans, such as U.S. embassy personnel, needed to be evacuated from an African country during a crisis, he added. But U.S. military operations in Africa come with its challenges. At 3.5 times the size of the continental U.S. and with more than 2,100 languages, Africa presents a complex mission for the command that relies on the ongoing support of host nations. "When you have relationships with friends and families you have to continue to cultivate those relationships," he said. "It's the same thing with setting the theater. You have to continue to cultivate enduring relationships." USARAF has seen recent success on this with the growth of its African Land Forces Summit, an annual event that brings together African land force commanders to discuss challenges and the ways ahead. Malawi held the last summit in May, which had 42 of the 53 African nations and four international partners participate. European military leaders have also shown interest in further engaging African nations after USARAF officials were invited to give a presentation last month during the European Land Force Summit in Rome. "They were just amazed at the scope of our engagement across the continent," LeBoeuf said. While more assistance for African nations is expected in the near future, the general said security and stability efforts would likely be ongoing for decades to come. "We're at a long game. We're talking generational changes," he said. "When you look at the whole of Africa and the whole of individual nations, it's generational for them to continue to develop and meet their aspirations. It's not going to happen overnight." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Press point by the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg following the meeting of the NATO-Russia Council NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 26 Oct. 2017 As delivered. I have just chaired a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council. This is our third meeting this year. It was a long meeting but it was also a meeting with frank and open discussions on several important issues. Our dialogue is not easy, but that is exactly why our dialogue is so important. Today, we discussed three topics: Ukraine, Afghanistan, and transparency and risk reduction. NATO Allies and Russia continue to have fundamental differences on the issue of Ukraine, how to solve the crisis in Ukraine. This conflict continues to have a profound impact on the security and stability of the Euro-Atlantic region, and it remains the primary reason for the current state of NATO-Russia relations. Improving the security situation in eastern Ukraine remains the priority in order to move towards the full implementation of the Minsk agreements. However, the situation remains fragile and violations of the ceasefire continue. Heavy weapons are still close to the conflict line. And the access of OSCE monitors is still obstructed, including at the Russian-Ukrainian border. We welcome the ongoing diplomatic efforts to promote the implementation of the Minsk agreements by all sides. We also had a frank exchange on the security situation in Afghanistan, including the regional terrorist threat. Our analyses differ considerably. But we all share the same interest in ensuring security and stability in Afghanistan. Russia provided a briefing on its policy in Afghanistan. And Allies set out NATO's substantial efforts to strengthen the Afghan security forces. It is important that everybody supports the National Unity Government. This is the best way to help fight terrorists in Afghanistan. And achieve greater security and stability for the whole region. We also discussed transparency and risk reduction. This remains a vital issue for the NATO-Russia Council. Last year we initiated a dialogue on air safety in the Baltic region. Following that, an Expert Group led by Finland on Baltic Sea Air Safety was established. Their work so far is promising. We have also made progress this year, by addressing both force posture and military exercises, including through reciprocal briefings. Today, we exchanged information on recent exercises. Allies made clear that the scale and geographical scope of exercise ZAPAD 2017 significantly exceeded what Russia had previously announced. At the same time, we agreed that the principle of reciprocal exercise briefings, including advance briefings, is useful. And I hope we will continue these exchanges in the next meetings of the NATO-Russia Council. We also agreed that we can enhance transparency and predictability in the Euro-Atlantic area through contact among our senior military leaders. We should build on these points of agreement to reduce risks of incidents and misunderstandings due to increased military activity in the region. And with that I'm ready to take your questions. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Catalan leader warns of escalating crisis with Madrid Iran Press TV Thu Oct 26, 2017 11:14AM The leader of Spain's semi-autonomous Catalonia region has warned of an escalating crisis with Madrid over the region's continued ambitions for independence. "To solve what the government has called an extraordinary serious situation, it will create an even more serious extraordinary situation by seizing Catalonia's political autonomy," Carles Puigdemont wrote in a letter to the Spanish senate on Thursday. The Catalan regional president insisted that taking over powers from the semi-autonomous region would be an "affront" to Spain's constitution. Spanish senators are expected to approve measures on Friday that would remove Catalonia's independence-seeking leadership and suspend its semi-autonomous status. Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy told the parliament on Wednesday that the government was determined to invoke Article 155 of the Spanish constitution, which allows Madrid to impose direct rule over the wealthy region. That decision has been made because Catalonia has failed to renounce its independence bid. The region has threatened back that it would unilaterally declare independence if Madrid started the process of suspending the region's autonomy. 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. The Catalan leader has 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. But he has refused to clarify whether that suspension amounted to a total renouncement of the bid for secession. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'Fundamental Differences' Remain After NATO-Russia Council Meeting RFE/RL October 26, 2017 NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says the Western military alliance and Russia "continue to have fundamental differences" regarding the conflict in eastern Ukraine. "Our dialogue is not easy, but that is exactly why our dialogue is so important," Stoltenberg said on October 26 after NATO ambassadors met with Russian envoy Aleksandr Grushko at the alliance's headquarters in Brussels. The NATO chief described the latest session of the NATO-Russia Council as a "frank and open discussion" on Ukraine, Afghanistan, transparency, and risk reduction. Relations between Moscow and the West have been severely strained over issues including Russia's seizure of Ukraine's Crimea region in March 2014 and its support for separatists who control parts of eastern Ukraine. The war between Kyiv's forces and the Russia-backed separatists has killed more than 10,000 people since April 2014. Amid strained ties, there has been a series of potentially dangerous close encounters between Russian and NATO warplanes and navy ships in recent months. A series of potentially dangerous close encounters between Russian and NATO warplanes and navy ships in recent months has added to the tension, with the alliance accusing Moscow of aggressive maneuvers in the air and at sea. The NATO-Russia Council -- a forum intended to prevent tensions from escalating -- had already met twice this year. Stoltenberg said on October 26 that the situation in eastern Ukraine remains "fragile," citing cease-fire violations and the continued presence of heavy weapons close to the line separating Ukrainian government forces and the separatists. He also said that the access of monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is "still obstructed, including at the Russian-Ukrainian border." 'Frank Exchange' The NATO and Russian ambassadors also exchanged information on recent military exercises, including the Zapad (West) drills that Russia held with Belarus in September. The maneuvers brought thousands of troops close to NATO's eastern members and caused concerns about Moscow's intentions given its military interference in Ukraine. NATO allies "made clear that the scale and geographical scope of exercise Zapad 2017 significantly exceeded what Russia had previously announced," Stoltenberg said. "We agreed that the principle of reciprocal exercise briefings, including advance briefings, is useful," the NATO chief added. "We also agreed that we can enhance transparency and predictability in the Euro-Atlantic area through contact among our senior military leaders." Stoltenberg said that the alliance and Russia also had a "frank exchange" on the security situation in Afghanistan and the "regional terrorist threat," adding, "Our analyses differ considerably." However, he said the alliance and Moscow "share the same interest in ensuring security and stability in Afghanistan," where the Western-backed government is struggling to beat back insurgents in the wake of the exit of most NATO forces in 2014. Moscow Denies Supporting Taliban The NATO-Russia Council also addressed allegations that Russia is supporting the Afghan Taliban, which Moscow denies. Russian President Vladimir Putin's special envoy for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, who attended the meeting, said that "no documents were provided" as evidence for the claim, according to state-run Russian news agency TASS. The commander of U.S. military operations in Afghanistan, General John Nicholson, told a U.S. Senate committee in February that Russia had significantly increased its covert and overt support for the Taliban, with a goal of "undermining the United States and NATO." And in March, U.S. General Curtis Scaparrotti, NATO's supreme allied commander in Europe, told U.S. lawmakers that he had seen evidence of increasing Russian efforts to influence the Taliban "and perhaps even to supply" the militant group. He did not say if he meant weapons or other kinds of equipment. With reporting by TASS Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-nato -council-meeting-ukraine-afghanistan- taliban-support/28816786.html Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Violence Erupts as Kenya Holds New Presidential Election By VOA News October 26, 2017 Thursday's repeat of Kenya's presidential election has been marred by clashes between police and protesters, as well as unopened polling stations in opposition strongholds. Police fired tear gas at demonstrators in Kibera, a slum of the capital Nairobi, as they attempted to place barricades in front of a polling station. Violence also broke out in the western city of Kisumu, where dozens of polling stations were closed and election officials were nowhere to be found. A man in Kisumu was shot and killed during clashes between police and protesters, according to local police. The re-vote is being held more than two months after incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta won an election that Kenya's Supreme Court eventually invalidated due to "irregularities and illegalities" by the national electoral commission, known by its acronym IEBC. But the re-vote itself has been thrown into chaos. Opposition leader Raila Odinga withdrew his candidacy two weeks ago, arguing that the IEBC had not made improvements to the process, and called on his supporters to boycott the vote. A week later, electoral commission member Roselyn Akombe resigned and fled the country, saying the embattled commission is "under siege" from infighting and political intimidation. Odinga issued a statement on the eve of the election pledging that his National Super Alliance (NASA) coalition would transform itself into a "resistance movement" against the vote. The high court was set to hear a petition Wednesday filed by three registered voters to stop the re-vote, but the hearing was called off after Chief Justice David Maraga said the court lacked a quorum to do so. 2013 elections marred Odinga and Kenyatta, who seeks a second term, also faced off in a 2013 election marred by opposition allegations of vote-rigging. The opposition leader also ran unsuccessfully in 2007. Ethnic-fueled animosity after that vote killed more than 1,000 people and forced 600,000 from their homes. Many observers say Kenya's ethnic-based politics overshadow the promise of its democracy. Kenyatta is a Kikuyu, while Odinga is a Luo. Some information for this report was provided by AP NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Catalan Leader Says Revoking Autonomy Will Worsen Crisis By VOA News October 26, 2017 Catalan President Carles Puigdemont says the Spanish government will worsen the political crisis over the Catalonia region's push for independence if lawmakers go ahead with a threat to revoke its autonomy. In a letter Thursday to the Senate, Puigdemont said the proposed steps go beyond reasonable measures and carry "direct and immediate consequences" for the people of Catalonia. "In order to resolve what the government has called a serious, extraordinary situation, it will create an even more serious, extraordinary situation by seizing Catalonia's political autonomy," Puigdemont said. The Senate is expected to approve direct rule for Catalonia during a session Friday. Catalonia's regional government announced Puigdemont would make an announcement Thursday, but did not give details. Speculation about his possible moves has included formally declaring independence on the basis of an October 1 referendum, or calling for snap elections for the regional government. Carlos Uxo, a senior lecturer at Monash University, says it is a foregone conclusion that the Senate will go ahead with stripping Catalonia's independence. "To be approved, you need a majority in the Senate, and the ruling party, Partido Popular, has that majority so they don't even need to discuss with other parties," Uxo told VOA. "They have said that it will go ahead no matter what the Catalan government does." The situation has played out for several weeks with both sides threatening to take action the other sees as escalating the situation. Uxo said he thinks neither side is ready to engage in real dialogue. "I think they are more interested at this stage in defending their views rather than trying to come out of this stalemate," he said. VOA's Victor Beattie in Washington DC contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump lifts refugee ban while imposing restrictions on 11 nations Iran Press TV Wed Oct 25, 2017 06:24AM President Donald Trump has issued a new executive order that lifts his worldwide temporary ban on refugees entering the United States, but imposes "extreme vetting" for 11 nations. Trump signed the order Tuesday to restart the refugee admission program, which was suspended for 120 days as part of his controversial travel ban. The new directive initiates a new 90-day review program for 11 countries which the administration has previously deemed "high risk," according to a memo obtained by Reuters. The administration did not disclose the 11 countries, but reports suggest the delay in processing would apply to Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Mali, North Korea, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. All those countries are majority-Muslim, except for North Korea and South Sudan. Refugee admissions from those nations will be permitted on a case-by-case basis to determine if an entry "poses no threat to the security or welfare of the United States." Under the new measures, authorities will now consider biographic data from refugee applicants and analyze their social media presence. Refugee advocates said the new measures amounted to a de facto ban on refugees from those countries, since refugees are already heavily vetted. The administration will also suspend a program that allows for family reunification for some refugees resettled in the US. The new refugee order came as the previous moratorium expired on Tuesday. Trump has issued three travel bans since coming to office in January. His third ban, which was announced September 24 and slated to take effect on October 18, was blocked by a judge in Hawaii. On Tuesday, the Trump administration appealed US District Judge Derrick Watson's opinion issued last week. Government lawyers filed court documents, taking the case to the San Francisco-based 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals, which has blocked both of the president's previous bans. Critics argue that the bans were aimed at barring Muslims from the United States, in line with Trump's campaign promises. The administration has denied the measures discriminate on the basis of religion or ethnicity. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kaspersky Lab Says It Took Hacking Code From U.S. Computer RFE/RL October 25, 2017 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 company's 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 Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kaspersky-lab-obtained-hacking -code-us-computer/28815450.html Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Army deploys Kestrel Eye satellite By Jason B. Cutshaw (SMDC/ARSTRAT) October 25, 2017 REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- While the Army has long been considered America's land force, many of the Army's Soldiers and civilians depend upon space to perform their missions. One of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command's newest prototypes is Kestrel Eye, a small, low-cost, visible-imagery satellite designed to provide near real-time images to the tactical-level ground Soldier. Kestrel Eye, developed by the command's Technical Center, was deployed into space and activated Oct. 24. "Kestrel Eye is a technology demonstrator, but it holds the promise of providing tactical imagery to the Soldier on the ground, and to do it responsively, persistently and reliably," said John R. London III, SMDC Space and Strategic Systems Directorate chief engineer. "This is a game changing capability for the Army because for the first time commanders in the field will be able to control the entire imagery process from end-to-end, from the tasking of the satellite all the way through to the dissemination of the data to the Soldiers who need it. "It is the validation of an idea we had 11 years ago that space data does not have to be expensive or only available to a few senior leaders," he added. "Kestrel Eye will demonstrate how tactical imagery can be made available to individual Soldiers in the field, rapidly and inexpensively." London said he was contacted by Maj. Fred Kennedy at Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, in 2006 about the possibility of SMDC taking over the Kestrel Eye program from DARPA, as they did not plan to carry the program beyond the conceptual design stage. "I felt like it was a very nice match for SMDC since we were just starting to look at technology investments in tactical space systems for the Army," London said. "Kestrel Eye held the promise of providing on-demand imagery of any spot on earth for the Army, something that had never been available before. And the projected price for a single Kestrel Eye satellite indicated that the acquisition of a large number of satellites to enable persistent coverage could be acceptable." Kestrel Eye was launched to the International Space Station as a payload aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on Aug. 14 as part of the ISS cargo resupply mission, SpaceX CRS-12. "The high had to be seeing the Falcon 9 launch vehicle lift off the pad bound for the ISS, with the Kestrel Eye Block II spacecraft on board," London said. "This happened almost 11 years after that phone call from Maj. Kennedy, so it was an emotional moment." London noted that experiencing the launch from the Kennedy Space Center viewing platform along with the Kestrel Eye team was very special. The Army hopes to demonstrate the military utility of providing rapid situational awareness directly to Army brigade combat teams. Kestrel Eye will enhance situational awareness of the brigade combat teams by providing satellite imagery without the need for conventional, continental U.S.-based relays. London talked about the escalating excitement for Kestrel Eye deployment. He said it represents the end of a long road and a lot of hard work by many people at SMDC; the Joint Capability Technology Demonstration team at the Office of the Secretary of Defense; NASA; U.S. Pacific Command; Program Executive Office, Missiles and Space; Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology); the Department of Defense Space Test Program; and industry partners. "Those of us who work in the development of new space technologies don't always get to see the culmination of our labors in a significant successful event," London said. "With Kestrel Eye launch and deployment, the entire team, along with all who supported the program over the years, got to see this very significant success." Now that Kestrel Eye is deployed a safe distance from ISS, the satellite will power up automatically and be ready to receive signals from the ground station, then transition into the first of four major phases. The first phase is a technical checkout to verify satellite functionality and make any necessary adjustments. The second phase is a technical demonstration of the satellite to demonstrate full capability. The third phase is the operational demonstration conducted by the Kestrel Eye Joint Capability Technology Demonstration Combatant Command partner, U.S. Pacific Command. In the operational demonstration, a limited military utility assessment will be conducted by the independent assessor, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command. The fourth is residual operations where Kestrel Eye will participate in a series of Army exercises. "All those involved are excited to have this deployment occur in order to finally see Kestrel Eye operate," said Wheeler "Chip" Hardy, Kestrel Eye program manager, SMDC Tech Center's Space and Strategic Systems Directorate. "Many people have invested long hours and hard work to get to this point, and we will soon see the payoff of that investment. This program has been exciting to work because of the technology and the exceptional team of SMDC people working it with me. "The deployment and subsequent demonstrations are the culmination of a long development process," he added. "We are all looking forward to those first Kestrel Eye images to show what a satellite of this type can provide for the tactical Army at the leading edge of the fight." The Kestrel Eye satellite is designed to be tactically responsive, with the ability to task and receive data during an overhead pass and provide a measure of satellite persistence overhead that can provide situational awareness and images rapidly to the Soldier. In addition, the satellite will help Army forces fight across multiple domains to counter enemy threats. Astronaut Mark Vande Hei, a retired Army colonel who retired from the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command in August 2016, deployed Kestrel Eye from the ISS. "This is a huge honor for me. I have received so many opportunities from my military experience that any time I'm able to give back is always a pleasure," Vande Hei said. "It is pretty neat to have been on the receiving end of the benefits of satellites and now to be able to participate, very directly, in the low-Earth orbit aspects of space technology." Vande Hei praised the team for their work on Kestrel Eye. "The Army is a team of teams within teams where every role is extremely important," Vande Hei said. "The incredible dedication of every member of the SMDC workforce in getting the details right and taking the initiative to continually progress is allowing us to accomplish incredible things." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China to boost friendly military exchanges, cooperation with other countries People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 10:31, October 25, 2017 Chinese military will continue to enhance its friendly exchanges and pragmatic cooperation with other countries' military forces across the world, including those in the Asia-Pacific region, a senior Chinese official said on Tuesday. Chang Wanquan, Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister, who is attending the 11th ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting (ADMM) and the 4th ADMM-Plus meeting held in the Philippines, said the peaceful development of China is closely linked to the future of the Asia-Pacific region, as it is the largest developing country in the world. "We will enhance exchanges and cooperation with other countries, in the hope of building better mutual understanding and mutual trust, safeguarding peace and stability in the region and the world, and achieving a common prosperity," Chang told a meeting with 10 ASEAN defense ministers and other seven from the ADMM-Plus. ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. ADMM-Plus includes ASEAN's eight dialogue partners - Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia and the United States. "China will stick to the principles of peace, development, cooperation and win-win, unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development, and is committed to building a community with shared future with other countries," Chang said. Chang also noted that China is in favor of security cooperation featuring co-building, mutual sharing and win-win, adding all parties should abandon the zero-sum mentality and manage risks by dialogue and consultation. He also held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Russia, Singapore, Malaysia and South Korea, respectively. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Xi Endured Long Road to Reach Pinnacle of Chinese Power By VOA News October 25, 2017 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address North Korea: Take hydrogen bomb test threat 'literally' Iran Press TV Wed Oct 25, 2017 09:50PM A high-ranking North Korean official has warned that Pyongyang's threats of testing a hydrogen bomb over the Pacific Ocean should be taken "literally." During a Wednesday interview with CNN, the North Korean Foreign Ministry official, Ri Yong-pil, stressed that his country "has always brought its words into action." While addressing the United Nations General Assembly last month, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho announced that the North may test a powerful hydrogen bomb in the near future. The announcement was made shortly after US President Donald Trump threatened to "totally destroy" North Korea during his UN address. "The foreign minister is very well aware of the intentions of our supreme leader, so I think you should take his words literally," said the Foreign Ministry official. "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," he added. The standoff over North Korea escalated in July when it test-fired two intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM). Experts say the entire US mainland is within the range of the missiles, which North Korea says could be equipped with nuclear warheads. North Korea has blamed the US for escalating tensions, saying Washington's engineering of crippling international sanctions on the country and its increased military presence in the region have left the government in Pyongyang with no option but to shore up its defense capabilities. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Tillerson In India After Visits To Pakistan, Afghanistan RFE/RL October 25, 2017 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 Pakistan's 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 Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/tillerson-visit-india -pakistan-afghanistan/28814873.html Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Press Availability With Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj Press Availability Rex W. Tillerson Secretary of State Ministry of External Affairs Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan New Delhi, India October 25, 2017 MODERATOR: Good afternoon, friends, and thank you for joining us for this media interaction. To begin the proceedings, may I request The Honorable External Affairs Minister of India to deliver her statement to the media. EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTER SWARAJ: (Via interpreter) Secretary of State Secretary Tillerson, and friends from the media, I'm delighted to welcome Secretary Tillerson on his first visit to India as Secretary of State. I would like to welcome on behalf of the Government of India, the people of India, and myself a very warm welcome to the Secretary of State. This visit of Secretary Tillerson has been a very fruitful visit. He has been to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Pakistan. And after visits to these countries, he has come to India, which means that he has covered six countries in five days. But what I'm very happy to note is that and the final destination has been to the country of a very close country. And you say that when you visit a friend's country, you take care you get rid of all your fatigue. And I hope that you are feeling a little relaxed. I hope that you're not feeling tired, but will take back new energy with you. Friends, in the last over the month, this is our second meeting. I had the pleasure of meeting Secretary Tillerson in New York last month on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Our strategic partnership with the U.S. is of high priority for us. As Prime Minister Modi has said, we consider the U.S. as an indispensable partner in every sector of India's march forward. Secretary Tillerson, we appreciate the clear vision that you have presented of the India-U.S. global partnership in your speech in Washington last week. I would like to tell you that we fully share your strong desire to strengthen this relationship between the two largest democracies of the world. I'm very happy to let you know that considerable progress in the implementation of the decisions taken during Prime Minister Modi's visit to the U.S. Our defense engagements have intensified. We are consulting closely on security and counterterrorism issues, and commencement of U.S. crude oil purchase by India has added a new dimension to our energy partnership. I wish to express my appreciation to Secretary Tillerson's individual efforts in this regard. In our discussions today, we identified the next steps to carry forward our cooperation. We discussed in detail the issue of terrorism, which has emerged as the foremost security challenge for the entire world. We discussed ways for effective implementation of the new strategy of President Trump on Afghanistan and South Asia so that the strategy achieves its desired goals. We share the grave concern at the recent escalation of terrorist violence against Afghanistan. These attacks demonstrate that safe havens and support systems continue to be available to the terrorists. Secretary Tillerson and I agreed that we will work closely to ensure that no country provides safe havens for terrorists, and those who provide support to terrorists or use terrorism are held accountable. We agreed that Pakistan should take immediate steps to dismantle safe havens for terrorist groups and bring the perpetrators of Mumbai and Pathankot and other terrorist attacks. We believe that effective action by Pakistan against all terrorist groups without distinction is critical to the success of the new strategy of President Trump. India is committed to working closely with the Government of Afghanistan and the international community, including the U.S., towards securing a democratic, peaceful, prosperous, stable, inclusive, and secure Afghanistan. We have agreed to hold India-U.S.-Afghanistan trilateral meeting at an early date. We have also agreed to hold the inaugural meeting of the new bilateral mechanism on domestic and international terrorist designations in India in December. We also discussed the security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, and connectivity issues. During prime minister's visit, both our countries had agreed on a set of principles that would guide connectivity initiatives in this region, particularly the respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. We also reaffirmed the importance of freedom of navigation, overflight, and unimpeded commerce in accordance with international laws in order to achieve a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. Secretary Tillerson and I agreed that we will work together and with other partners to promote cooperation based on these principles. We have also agreed to hold the inaugural meeting of the 2+2 dialogue mechanism at an early date. We agreed to encourage industrial partnership between our defense companies. We believe that further liberalization of the legal framework and full implementation of the bilateral understanding on India's major defense partner status will facilitate co-production and co-development. We appreciate the intent that U.S. administration has shown under President Trump to make available to India advance defense platforms. We look forward to making further progress in this area. Friends, we have also deliberated on our vibrant economic partnership and agreed to work more closely to unlock the immense potential in our bilateral economic cooperation. The sustained growth of the Indian economy will unleash more opportunities for great India-U.S. economic engagement. Our cabinet colleagues will hold in-depth discussion in Washington, D.C. over the next two days. Friends, people-to-people contacts have played a critical role in the development of India-U.S. relations. This is in part this is most evident in our mutually beneficial digital partnership, driven by our skilled professionals. Secretary Tillerson has very correctly pointed out that no two countries encourage innovation better than the U.S. and India. In this regard, we discussed the very significant contribution to the U.S. 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 the long-pending issue of totalization, and I have asked that no nothing by the U.S. should be done which will affect or adversely affect India's interests. Innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic partnership have been an important foundation of our relations. Our economic innovation partnership will be further strengthened by the Global Entrepreneurship Summit that India and U.S. will co-host next month. We look forward to welcoming the U.S. delegation led by Ms. Ivanka Trump, advisor to the President. Friends, I thank Secretary Tillerson for the continued U.S. support to India's membership of the multilateral export control regimes and permanent membership of the UN Security Council. We both agreed that enhanced global role we must take forward the agreements made between our two leaders, and this trip has enhanced it. I now invite Secretary Tillerson to give his remarks. Thank you. MODERATOR: (Inaudible) request our Honorable Secretary of State to deliver his statement to the media. SECRETARY TILLERSON: Well, let me begin by thanking Prime Minister Modi and Minister Swaraj for their very warm welcome to India. It is a real pleasure to return to India, a vibrant democracy that shares so many values with the United States. India and the United States have had close relations now for more than 70 years and we are natural allies, in the words of Prime Minister Modi. We are grateful for his friendship and his vision of a closer U.S.-India relationship and a vision we certainly share. 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. In this regard, we are willing and able to provide India advanced technologies for its military modernization efforts. This includes ambitious offers from American industry for F-16 and F-18 fighter planes. I'm grateful to my friend and colleague, Secretary of Defense Mattis, that he was able to visit India last month, and he and I both look forward to the inaugural 2+2 dialogue early next year. In August, President Trump announced a new strategy for South Asia, one that redoubles our commitment to Afghanistan, and with it, to peace, stability, and the greater South Asian region. India plays an important role in this effort. In the fight against terrorism, the United States will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with India. Terrorist safe havens will not be tolerated. We acknowledge with gratitude India's generous contributions to development in Afghanistan, including construction of the Salma Dam and the Afghanistan parliament building, and the $3 billion it has provided already in development assistance. We also look forward to further cooperation in the broader Indo-Pacific region as we both promote a rules-based approach to the commons and a transparent and sustainable approach to economic development. We're glad to be joined in this effort by our close mutual partner, Japan, and I was honored to participate in a trilateral discussion on these topics with my friends, Minister Swaraj and Minister Kono, in New York last month. In addition to our partnership on regional and global stability, India and the United States continue to benefit from our strong economic bonds. Our two countries have a history of trade that dates back to the 18th century, long before the independence of either of our nations. We are pleased that recently, we celebrated an important milestone of our deepening economic relationship. The first shipment of American crude oil arrived in India at the beginning of this month, marking the first U.S. oil export to India in more than four decades. Continued oil sales have the potential to boost bilateral trade by up to $2 billion per year. In fact, the U.S.-India trade relationship, which reached nearly $115 billion last year, touches many parts of the lives of both of our citizens. U.S. companies and products are an everyday presence in the lives of Indians and we see increasing investments from Indian companies in America, including a Mahindra vehicle plant that will open this month in Detroit, the first ever Indian automobile manufacturing plant in the United States. India and the United States also share a spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation, including the dynamic Indian American community. We're proud to cohost the Global Engagement [1] Summit in Hyderabad next month, where the spirit of private enterprise will be on full display. GES, the first ever to be hosted in South Asia, will be an important opportunity for India and the United States to showcase the entrepreneurship of our people, advance women's economic empowerment, and harness the power of young innovators in both of our countries. But at the core of our strong bond is our shared values. Our democracies were founded on a commitment to individual liberty and the rule of law. It's this foundation that underpins all that we work together on, from combating terrorism and safeguarding a rules-based Indo-Pacific region to increasing free and fair trade even as we look for more areas of cooperation. As President Trump said during Prime Minister Modi's trip to the United States in June, and I quote, "The future of our partnership has never looked brighter." India and the United States will always be tied together in friendship and respect. We look forward to an even brighter future. Thank you very much, Excellency, for hosting me and for the very fruitful and useful dialogue we've had. Thank you. MODERATOR: Thank you, sir. (Inaudible) two questions. One will be from the media accompanying the U.S. Secretary of State and another one for from the Indian media. The first question goes to the accompanying media which is with the U.S. Secretary of State. MODERATOR: Jonathan, go ahead. QUESTION: Jonathan Landay with oh. Jonathan Landay with Reuters. Madam External Affairs Minister, you say India fully shares Secretary Tillerson's vision for greater for greatly expanding U.S.-Indian relations and for India to play a greater security role in the Indo-Pacific region. In that context, the Trump administration is pressing countries around the world to cut diplomatic and trade ties with North Korea, to strangle the hard currency flows that fund North Korea's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. India and North Korea maintain embassies in each other's capitals, and bilateral trade in 2013 reportedly totaled more than $90 million, some 60 million of it Indian exports that include petroleum products critical to North Korea's military. Is India prepared to shut down trade with Pyongyang and close the embassies to demonstrate its readiness to expand its strategic partnership with the United States? Mr. Secretary, in 2016, India and Afghanistan signed an agreement for India to develop the southern Iranian port of Chabahar and build a railway line to southern Afghanistan, creating a trade corridor that would free Afghanistan from reliance on Pakistan's port of Karachi, to which India has no access. India is investing millions in the project, which will allow it to expand trade and assistance to Afghanistan, a key pillar of your administration's new South Asia policy, yet the Trump administration also has embarked on a new strategy that takes a more aggressive stance towards Iran in order to blunt its expanding influence in the Middle East. Isn't there a major risk that the two U.S. strategies will clash in Chabahar, that Iran could put the brakes on that project, seriously undermining India's ability to fulfill the role envisioned for it in the Trump administration's plan for stabilizing Afghanistan? How do you prevent that from happening given the serious tensions between the United States and Iran? Thank you. EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTER SWARAJ: (Via interpreter) Thank you very much. The topic you have raised with regard to the DPRK and we have actually had a very open discussion between myself and Secretary Tillerson and both of the points that you have touched upon, which means reduction of trade and closing down of the embassy. In fact, I have talked to Secretary Tillerson about these two topics with regard to trade. The trade between us and DPRK has reduced considerably. In fact, I can very safely say it's at a minimal level. Now, with regard to the embassy, the size of the Indian embassy in Pyongyang is very small, but the fact remains there is an embassy, and I mentioned to Secretary Tillerson that some of your friend countries' embassies should in fact stay there because we should leave some channels of communication with the DPRK. Many times you have to talk to the other person there. Sometimes you need dialogue to lead to solutions of problems, and I think there should be one embassy in that country of a country that you call a friend state. And I do understand that Secretary Tillerson has understood my stance on this very intelligently and he's understood the fact that we have considerably reduced the volume of trade and our embassy is small. But I still feel that the embassy should remain there and he has appreciated this point. SECRETARY TILLERSON: With respect to the recently announced policy of the United States towards Iran, I think it's important to keep a few things in mind. That policy, as you know, had three important pillars to it. One is dealing with the nuclear plan of action. The second important pillar of that policy, though, is to deal with Iran's other destabilizing activities their ballistic missile programs, their export of arms to terrorist organizations and their destabilizing export of foreign fighters, involvement in the revolution in Yemen, Syria, and other places. And the third pillar, though, which, again, doesn't get talked as much about, is a support for moderate voices inside of Iran, that 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 oppressive revolutionary regime, and we do not want to harm the Iranian people. Our fight is not with the Iranian people. Our disagreements are with the revolutionary regime. So with that context, as we are taking actions to impose sanctions on the regime and, in particular, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard it's our objective to deny financing capacity and to disrupt the activities related to these malign behaviors. It's 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 that promote economic development and activity to the benefit of our friends and allies as well. We think that there isn't there's no contradiction within that policy and, in fact, we're calling on some of these same counterparties to join us in imposing sanctions on Iran's activities, and in particular, the activities of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and their subsidiaries to punish them for the destabilizing activities that we see Iran carrying out in the region. So we do we don't see a contradiction there and we have very open dialogue and discussions with all of our friends and allies around the policy to ensure it's well understood. But also, if we see areas of concern, we'll engage with our friends and partners on ways that we believe they can help put the pressure on Iran to push back on the destabilizing activities of Iran that I think are of a concern to many in the world. MODERATOR: Thank you, sir. Thank you, ma'am. The second question goes to the Indian media. Ashish? QUESTION: Thank you (inaudible). Good afternoon, excellencies. I am Ashish from India TV. My question, Secretary, for you is that you just mentioned that safe havens of terror won't be tolerated, but we have seen off and on how Pakistan state has been harboring terrorists and supporting cross-border terrorism. So and whenever the complicity is pointed out to them, sir, they very easily get giving some tactical condition or some false assurances. So since you have just come from Pakistan to India, how do you look forward to deal with this issue, to solve this issue, which is very crucial to us? (Via interpreter) Ma'am, thank you. As you just mentioned about the H-1B visa, can you please tell me when you had a discussion with regard to H-1B visa you know that this has a very deep impact on many professionals what are the kind of resolutions that have been taken to resolve this? SECRETARY TILLERSON: In our discussions with Pakistani leadership yesterday in Islamabad we had a very open, frank exchange around the concerns the United States shares with other regional partners and allies India, but also Afghanistan that there are too many terrorist organizations that find a safe place in Pakistan from which to conduct their operations and attacks against other countries. We have extended to Pakistan certain expectations we have of their government and their leadership to deal with, in particular, these organizations, the leaders of these organizations, and we are attempting to put in place a mechanism of cooperation through information sharing, but not just information sharing; action action to be taken to begin to deny these organizations the ability to launch attacks against others. 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 and have enlarged their strength and their capability within Pakistan's borders, this can lead to a threat to Pakistan's own stability. It is not in anyone's interest that the Government of Pakistan be destabilized. And so we think we have a mutually shared interest in not just containing these organizations, but ultimately eliminating these organizations. I think all of us have to commit ourselves to the eradication of terrorism, of violent extremism in whatever form it takes. And this is going to require international and global efforts and a common view and a common objective and mission. And so these are the expectations that we have put in place with the leadership of Pakistan. We want to work with Pakistan in a positive way because we think this is in their interest as well longer term. EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTER SWARAJ: (Via interpreter) You have asked a question with regard to H-1B visas. Firstly, I would like to clarify that so far there has been no change in the policy of H-1B visas; however, some of the bills have been presented in the American Congress. If these bills pass, then some of our skilled professionals will be affected adversely and that is the reason why India has attached great priority to this issue. When I met with Secretary Tillerson in New York, then also I raised this issue, and just recently, we had a visit from a congressional delegation and, again, I raised this topic with them. And in fact, today also I have brought up this topic with Secretary Tillerson, and the way I put it across is this: that between India and U.S. share a very, very deep relation and when you leave keep that in place, I don't think a skilled professional doesn't think that there will be any action taken which will not be in the interest of the skilled profession. And, of course, you have asked us how have we come to looking for a solution. I think H-1B visa can be changed into two ways. Firstly can be an executive order or it can be through passing a bill by the Congress, and we are obviously looking at it from both the sides. With regard to E.O., we are talking of the administration like we've talked to Secretary Tillerson. With regard to bill passing in Congress, we are looking at getting their acceptance within the congressmen, like I mentioned that I just spoke with the congressional delegation also, so these are the two ways in which we are approaching getting closer to a solution so that we can ensure that the interests of our people are not affected adversely. We are talking to congressmen, we are talking to the administration that this kind of an E.O. is not passed or such a bill is not passed. Thank you. MODERATOR: Thank you, sir. This concludes today's press interaction. Thank you all for participating. ________________________________________ [1] Entrepreneurship NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Tillerson's Visit to India Highlights Strong Emerging Alliance By Anjana Pasricha October 25, 2017 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. VOA's Urdu Service contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 6th Iranian peace and friendship flotilla back home IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Anzali, Oct 25, IRNA -- The 6th Iranian peace and friendship which was dispatched to Makhachkala, capital city of the Republic of Dagestan, arrived in Iran on Wednesday. 'Iranian flotilla left Iran for Dagestan on October 18 and it docked in Makhachkala after two days,' Captain of the dispatched flotilla Amir Hosseini said. The Iranian flotilla consisted of Damavand destroyer and Peykan missile cruiser. The trip aimed at conveying the message of peace and friendship, promoting maritime culture and establishing cooperation to maintain peace in the Caspian Sea. 9376**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran's defense capabilities are not negotiable, not to be bargained: Leader ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Wed / 25 October 2017 / 15:48 Tehran(ISNA)-Joint graduation, inauguration, and epaulet granting ceremony for cadets of Islamic Republic of Iran's Army Academies, was held at Imam Ali Officers' Academy with Ayatollah Khamenei, the Commander-in-Chief of armed forces in attendance. The ceremony which was held on Wednesday, commenced with a speech prepared by Ayatollah Khamenei--the Leader of the Revolution: the leader opened up with a historical reminder on how Iran was once repressed by the western powers and their agendas. He specified, "Our dear Iran was once submissive to American, Zionist, and English advocates. This nation, country and its history had been drawn into repression by dependent, cruel, weak and submissive rulers." Ayatollah Khamenei mentioned the enemy's desire for dominance in the region and the importance of the Army cadets, who serve the nation, maintaining: "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." Furthermore, he raised the issue of Iran's defensive development and the enemy's disdain for it, by adding: "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." The Leader of the Revolution, brought to light issues regarding security and its correlation with the economic situation in Iran. He said: "If we say security is important, it's because any other progress depends on it today: 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 institution." Touching further on Iran's economic situation Ayatollah Khamenei mentioned: "Our historical problem is the dependence of the economy on oil; this has caused a concern for economic security at all times: The price of oil declined, it rose, that oil customer did not pay... when everything revolves around oil, the economy is insecure; the economy must be secured." The Leader of the revolution spoke on recent controversies surrounding the JPOA, clearly reiterating his position on Iran's defensive capabilities, by stating, "We have previously declared, and once again we declare that the defense capabilities of the country are non-negotiable and not to be bargained for!" Finalizing the speech he added, "That they ask, why we have some defense facility, why we produce them, or why do we conduct research?--these matters are non-negotiable! We won't negotiate with the enemy on matters that provide us with our national sovereignty." End Item NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US senators working on legislation with tough terms for Iran deal: Report Iran Press TV Wed Oct 25, 2017 07:55AM Republican Senators Bob Corker and Tom Cotton are reportedly working on new draft legislation that would set tough terms for the multilateral Iran deal in response to President Donald Trump's refusal to certify Tehran's compliance with the 2015 nuclear accord. The draft, seen by Reuters on Tuesday, sets tough new terms for the nuclear deal, formally known as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), including restoration of sanctions if Iran tests a ballistic missile capable of carrying a warhead or prevents nuclear inspectors from visiting any sites. The motion, according to the report, was already under preparation when Trump delivered his anti-Iran speech on October 13, in which he said he would not be certifying Iran's compliance with the terms of the JCPOA under a domestic American law, kicking to Congress a decision on whether to restore sanctions against Iran. Trump did not pull Washington out of the JCPOA, but he gave the US Congress 60 days to decide whether to re-impose the economic sanctions against Tehran that were lifted under the pact. The draft legislation is a proposed amendment to the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act passed in 2015. It extends the US administration's assessment of Iran's compliance with the nuclear deal, but adds other issues to be examined, such as trade with Iran or ensuring that Tehran is using US-licensed aircraft for civilian purposes. It also stipulates that the US would immediately re-impose or "snap back" sanctions against Iran if the country were deemed capable of developing a nuclear weapon within a year. Re-imposing sanctions would put the US at odds with other signatories to the accord and the European Union. Critics warn that if the legislation, drafted by Republican senators Bob Corker and Tom Cotton with support from the Trump administration, is enacted, it could put the US in breach of the international pact. Corker has met with Democratic Senators, as the legislation requires the approval of at least some of them. The Democratic Senators have reportedly insisted that the US should work with its European allies who co-signed the agreement before making any decision. Trump and Corker have already been engaged in a war of words over a variety of issues, including the Iran nuclear deal. While Trump blames the Republican Senator for the approval of the JCPOA by the US, the latter criticizes the president for breaking down important international relationships. A spokeswoman for Corker did not immediately comment on how the dispute with Trump might affect the Iran legislation. The European Union and the signatories to the nuclear deal -- Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China -- have warned that Trump's plan could cause a split with Washington and jeopardize the US credibility when it comes to deal making. After the leaders of the UK, France and Germany failed to convince Trump of the dangers of killing the JCPOA, they have now focused their lobbying efforts on the US Congress. EU Ambassador to the US David O'Sullivan and his French, German, and British counterparts met with congressional lawmakers earlier this month to explain why Europe believes Iran's nuclear deal is working. On October 16, the union's foreign ministers held a closed-door meeting, chaired by EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, on the best way to proceed with the Iran issue. The top European diplomats urged US lawmakers not to re-impose sanctions on Tehran and warned against the serious consequences of harming the international agreement backed by the UN Security Council. Meanwhile, besides senior officials in Moscow who have staunchly defended the JCPOA, 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 deal. The Russian Federation Council's Foreign Affairs Committee has prepared a draft statement, planned to be put to vote on Wednesday, to warn against Trump's threats against the Iran deal. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Tillerson Says U.S. Sanctions Targeting Iran's 'Malign Behaviors' Only RFE/RL October 25, 2017 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...it's 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 Tehran's 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 Iran's "destabilizing activity" and support for "terrorist proxies," place additional sanctions on Tehran to block its financing of terror, and address the "regime's proliferation of missiles and weapons that threaten its neighbors." With reporting by AFP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-tillerson-sanctions- destabilizing-activities/28815296.html Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Security Adviser Slams Iran's 'Malign, Destructive' Regional Influence RFE/RL October 25, 2017 U.S. President Donald Trump's 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. "It's 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 Shi'ite Hizballah movement continues to operate in Lebanon. McMaster said he sees the effect of Tehran's influence in all the conflicts. Iraq's Shi'ite-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 Tillerson's 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 government's 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 Shi'ite 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. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-security-adviser- slams-irans-malign-destructive-regional -influence/28815810.html Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ex-UN Envoy: Nuclear Pact Decertification Opens Door to 'Dealing With Iran's Behavior' By VOA News October 25, 2017 A former United States ambassador to the United Nations chided lawmakers Wednesday for engaging in a "little bit of a fake debate" surrounding President Donald Trump's decision not to certify Iran's compliance with an international nuclear accord. During testimony before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Mark Wallace, former ambassador to the U.N., representative for U.N. management and reform, 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 didn't fall with certification or not certification," he told lawmakers. "Now we have to deal with Iran's 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, let's now readdress those." Wallace 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 it's worked in the past, it can work again, but it requires a bipartisan consensus, and this committee has always been able to do that," he said. 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 Sen. Lindsey Graham on 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. Democrat Sen. 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 re-impose sanctions on Iran "would almost certainly lead to the collapse of the deal." "It's 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. 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 Trump's authority. According to many Democrats, it would be a dangerous mistake. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kurds freeze independence vote, call for ceasefire Iran Press TV Tue Oct 24, 2017 11:46PM The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has said that it will freeze the results of a recent vote for independence from Iraq. Based on a statement released by the KRG on Tuesday, they also called for an immediate ceasefire and a cessation to all military operations in the northern region. It also proposed open dialog with Baghdad based on the Iraqi constitution. The announcement came shortly after the parliament in the autonomous Iraqi region of Kurdistan announced that legislative and presidential elections that were delayed due the ongoing political stand-off with Baghdad would be held in eight months. The development may end weeks of simmering tensions between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government over the September 25 referendum, held in open defiance of the central government in Baghdad. Iraq, along with neighbors Iran and Turkey, opposed the vote, warning that the referendum would further complicate the security situation in the Arab country that has been grappling with foreign-backed militancy in its north and west for the past three years. Following the vote, the central government in Baghdad shut down flights in and out of the region and ordered a halt to its independent crude oil sales. The Kurdish region further slipped into political uncertainty after Iraqi forces captured the disputed city of Kirkuk last week. The city and its surroundings, rich in oil and populated by Kurds, Arabs and Christians, have been at the heart of a long-running row between Erbil and Baghdad. Gorran, the main opposition party to Barzani, issued a statement on Sunday, calling for the resignation of the Kurdish leader, who has held the region's presidency since 2005. The opposition party said Barzani was responsible for the turmoil that followed the referendum. Last week, Iraq's judiciary also issued arrest warrants for three senior Kurdish officials, who were allegedly behind the contentious plebiscite, which also faced strong opposition from regional countries, including Iran and Turkey. Iraq's Supreme Court has already ruled the referendum unconstitutional. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iraq's Abadi in Turkey for talks on Kurds Iran Press TV Wed Oct 25, 2017 02:09PM Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi has arrived in Turkey to discuss developments in the Arab country's Kurdistan region as Baghdad and Ankara seek stronger bonds to deal with the Kurdish independence drive. Turkey's state broadcaster TRT said on Wednesday that Abadi arrived in Ankara late morning and went right to the presidential palace to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Iraq has harshly criticized the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) for holding a referendum of independence on September 25. Neighbors Turkey and Iran have expressed similar worries, saying the move would further complicate the security situation in Iraq and in the entire Middle East. After talks with Abadi, Erdogan said Turkey would help Iraq export oil through a pipeline that largely bypasses Kurdistan. Baghdad has called on the KRG to hand over a pipeline that has been used to export oil from the region to Turkey. Erdogan said Ankara would provide "every kind of support" to Baghdad to reopen another damaged pipeline that runs near the northern city of Mosul. Erdogan also said that Turkey and Iraq were discussing a possible move to close down Turkey's borders with Kurdistan, which could have a massive impact on the economy of the Kurdish territory. For his part, Abadi again condemned the KRG for holding the referendum, saying the move was meant to impact Iraq's territorial integrity. "With the referendum they tried to break up our territory, they tried to redefine our borders," Abadi said. The Kurdish referendum seems to have helped Iraq and Turkey rebuild ties that had been strained over political and military developments in the region over the past years. Baghdad had repeatedly lambasted Ankara for its uncoordinated purchase of the Kurdish oil. The two had also clashed over Turkey's deployment of a contingent of troops to areas north of Mosul last year when Iraq was busy fighting the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group in the area. During his meeting with Erdogan, Abadi also touched upon the issue of Iraqi paramilitary forces, known as the Hashd al-Sha'abi, saying they have been a major help in Iraq's battle against terror over the past years. Abadi again dismissed US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's call for dismantling the Popular Mobilization Forces. "The PMF, today, is a part of the state's security apparatus based on a law approved by the parliament," he said. Abadi was also to meet his Turkish counterpart Binali Yildirim later on Wednesday. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran reopens border crossing with Iraq's Kurdistan Iran Press TV Wed Oct 25, 2017 11:19AM Iran has reopened one of its border crossings with Iraq's northern Kurdistan region after closing the terminal at Baghdad's request in response to the secession referendum in the area. Jahangir Bakhshi, the head of the Bureau of Customs in Marivan County of the northwestern Iranian Kordestan Province, announced the reopening of Bashmagh Crossing on Tuesday, Iran's Young Journalists Club news agency reported. Iraq had asked the Islamic Republic to close its border crossings with Kurdistan after the region held a controversial referendum on independence on September 25 in defiance of the central government, which views the vote as unconstitutional. Opponents in Iraq and abroad argued that the plebiscite was the last thing that the already violence-torn Arab country needed at a time when it focused on military operations against the Daesh terrorists. To avoid escalation following the referendum, Turkey was also asked to shut its crossings with Kurdistan. Iraq also called on both neighbors to close their airspace to flights to and from the region. On Tuesday, however, the Iraqi region's government said it would freeze the results of the vote, and proposed open dialog with Baghdad based on the Iraqi Constitution, apparently in favor of defusing tensions. Bakhshi said no decision had been made with regard to to other crossings linking Iran with the semi-autonomous region, namely Haji Omran, Piran Shahr and Parviz Khan. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iraq's Kurdistan Government Offers To 'Freeze' Independence Vote Results October 25, 2017 The regional government in Iraq's Kurdistan region has offered to "freeze" the results of last month's overwhelmingly approved independence referendum to prevent further violence and facilitate dialogue with Baghdad. "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 Kurdish government in Irbil said in a statement late on October 24. It offered an "immediate cease-fire" in the Kurdish region, a freeze on the referendum results, and an "open dialogue" with the federal government in Baghdad based on the country's constitution. Kurds supported independence by 92 percent in the September 25 referendum, which Baghdad repeatedly denounced as illegal. The plebiscite was also opposed by regional powers Iran and Turkey and most Western governments. Iraq's central government has demanded the cancellation of the vote results before it would negotiate with Kurdish leaders. It had no immediate response to the Kurdish offer. Iraqi forces supported by Iran-backed Shi'ite militias last week took of the oil-rich province of Kirkuk and other areas which came under control of Kurdish Peshmerga forces as they ousted the Islamic State extremist group from the region in recent years. Some 30 Peshmerga fighters and 10 Shi'ite militia members were killed in clashes, and thousands of Kurds fled Kirkuk to the northern cities of Sulaimaniya and Irbil. Based on reporting by dpa and Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iraq-kurdish-government-freeze -independence-results/28814480.html Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iraqi Parl't Demanding to Clarify 'Freeze' on Kurdistan Independence Vote Sputnik News 22:08 25.10.2017 Iraqi lawmaker Abbas Bayati has commented on a possible dialogue between Baghdad and Erbil amid reported proposal voiced the Kurdish side to "freeze" the result of the referendum that had taken place last month. BAGHDAD (Sputnik) The Iraqi parliament is demanding to give a clear definition of a "freeze" on the results of Kurdish independence referendum, proposed earlier by Iraqi Kurdistan's government, Abbas Bayati, an Iraqi lawmaker and State of Law Coalition member, told Sputnik. According to the lawmaker, the Iraqi parliament had not received any official proposals from the regional authorities yet, adding that he himself had learned about the initiative from media reports. "Out of three points two require clarification the issue of freezing results of the referendum is uncertain and unclear for us. What does the freeze mean? Is it a complete renunciation of the referendum, or does it mean that after a certain period of time they will go back to the issue, if they want to? We believe that the referendum is over, it is in the past," Bayati said. The second issue, which raised concerns of the parliament members, was, in his opinion, the issue of military actions. "We are not conducting a military operation, a war or a battle, it is relocation [of forces]. Relocation should be completed in all the regions beyond the red line of March 2003 in all regions which used to be under the control of the federal government forces in 2003," Bayati said. The lawmaker predicted that the parliament was unlikely to discuss the issue on Monday, explaining that its work was suspended and that the government should discuss it first. Bayati noted that the autonomous region had begun to take "serious steps," adding, however, that this initiative was not enough. Earlier in the day, the Kurdistan Regional Government offered the central country's government to cease fire, and to start a bilateral dialogue, expressing readiness to "freeze" the results of the independence referendum. Following the independence vote, Baghdad launched a military operation in the oil-rich Kirkuk province, disputed by both the central government and Iraq Kurdistan and de facto controlled by Kurdistan's Peshmerga military forces. Within a day of the operation, the Iraqi forces gained control of most of Kirkuk, including oil fields and the administration building and have continued the operation, which has resulted in clashes with Peshmerga forces. In its turn, Erbil has demanded the Iraqi troops' "immediate" withdrawal. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address No Response Yet From Baghdad to Iraqi Kurds' Truce Proposal - Kurdish Official Sputnik News 15:20 25.10.2017(updated 21:50 25.10.2017) An adviser to Iraqi Kurdistan's President Kifah Sinjari has spoken to Sputnik about Iraqi Kurdistan's position toward settling the conflict with the central government, following the September 25 independence referendum. CAIRO (Sputnik) The Iraqi government has not yet responded to Iraqi Kurdistan's cease-fire proposal, according to Kifah Sinjari, an adviser to the president of Iraqi Kurdistan. "I think that the Kurdistan government will await an official response from the Baghdad authorities," Sinjari told Sputnik. According to the official, the continuation of military actions is in the interest of neither side. "The ball is in the federal government's court, and there is an opportunity to save lives," he concluded. Sinjari pointed out that the clashes between the Iraqi forces and the Kurdish units might cause irreversible consequences. The Kurdistan Regional Government has offered the country's central government a cease-fire and to engage in bilateral dialogue, expressing its readiness to "freeze" the results of the region's independence referendum. The tensions between Baghdad and Erbil have escalated after the September 25 independence referendum held in the Kurdistan region, with over 90 percent of the Kurds in disputed areas supporting secession from Iraq despite strong opposition from Baghdad. A number of states, including Turkey, Iran and the United States have condemned the independence vote. Moreover, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim claimed earlier this month that Ankara in coordination with Tehran and Baghdad could introduce sanctions against Iraqi Kurdistan. Following the independence vote, Baghdad launched a military operation in the oil-rich Kirkuk province, disputed by both the central government and Iraq Kurdistan and de facto controlled by Kurdistan's Peshmerga military forces. Within a day of the operation, the Iraqi forces gained control of most of Kirkuk, including oil fields and the administration building and have continued the operation, which has resulted in clashes with Peshmerga forces. In its turn, Erbil has demanded the Iraqi troops' "immediate" withdrawal. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Erbil Proposes Baghdad to 'Freeze' Results of Independence Referendum Sputnik News 03:56 25.10.2017(updated 09:38 25.10.2017) The Kurdistan Regional Government has offered Iraq's central government a ceasefire and to start a bilateral dialogue, expressing readiness to "freeze" the results of the region's independence referendum. MOSCOW (Sputnik) According to the statement, the clashes between Iraqi troops and the Kurdish Peshmerga units would not hand victory to anyone, but would have a negative impact on both sides and would "drive the country towards disarray and chaos." "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 statement said. The tensions between Baghdad and Erbil escalated after the September independence vote held in Iraqi Kurdistan as well as disputed areas like the Kirkuk province. In October, Baghdad in cooperation with Shia militias launched an operation to tighten control over Kirkuk. At the referendum held on September 25, over 90 percent of the voters supported secession from Iraq. Baghdad, however, deemed the vote illegal and introduced a number of restrictive measures against Erbil. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iraqi forces march on Daesh's last haven in the country Iran Press TV Thu Oct 26, 2017 02:42AM The Iraqi army has launched a three-pronged offensive aimed at liberating the final Daesh-held areas in the country's western Anbar province. The army announced early on Thursday morning that the offensive to liberate the towns of Rawa and Qa'im, located close to the Syrian border, will be the final operation in the country against the Takfiri terrorist group. On Wednesday, the Iraqi air force dropped leaflets on the two towns warning civilians about the upcoming operation. "Your security forces are now coming to liberate youYour security forces are now coming to liberate you," read the leaflets. Earlier this month, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said Daesh will be totally defeated in the country by the end of the year. The outfit started its terror campaign in the Arab country in 2014 and overran vast expanses of its soil. With the help of volunteer fighters with the Popular Mobilization Units, Iraqi government troops then began to push back against the terrorists. The joint forces retook Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, in December the next year, in the most decisive victory against the terrorists until then. Daesh has, ever since, been losing district after district in the face of advances by the Iraqi army and allied forces. Most notably, the terror group lost the northern city of Mosul, its last urban Iraqi stronghold, in July. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US must accept military defeat in Afghanistan: Pakistan FM Iran Press TV Wed Oct 25, 2017 06:21PM The stalemate in Afghanistan will not improve unless the United States acknowledges its defeat in the country, says Pakistani Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif. "Their failures over the past 16 years [since the war in Afghanistan started] is before them," Asif said Wednesday, while briefing the Pakistani Senate on Wednesday about the talks he held the previous day with an American delegation led by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Asif told lawmakers that US policymakers, and not their military commanders, needed to drop the failed military plan and devise a political solution. "There will only be room for improvement if Washington accepts their defeat, their failures in Afghanistan," Asif said. "They are not ready to accept this." "Our country, our military and our police have made sacrifices in the war and in return, we have gained unmatched success," the foreign minister said, rebuking claims by the administration of US President Donald Trump that Pakistan was not doing enough to fight the Taliban and the Daesh terrorist groups in Afghanistan. The new Republican president denounced the Pakistani government for offering safe haven to "agents of chaos" in a speech in April, when he revealed Washington's plans for prolonged military presence in Afghanistan by sending 3,000 more troops to the country. US policymakers have been exploring a range of options to adopt a more aggressive approach against Pakistan, which may include reducing military aid, increasing unilateral drone activity, and revoking Pakistan's status as a major non-NATO ally. Pakistan not a US 'proxy' During his Senate report, Asif said Pakistani officials told Tillerson and his team that Islamabad did not want any military hardware, economic resources or material gain from Washington and was rather looking forward to forging a relationship based on equality. He further informed the senators that Pakistan would act against terrorists wreaking havoc in Afghanistan only when the US provided actionable intelligence. "However, if they want that we act as their proxies to fight their war... this is unacceptable," he said. "We will not compromise on our sovereignty, our dignity," Asif asserted. "Our relations [with America] should be based on self-respect and dignity." Tillerson's tone 'not acceptable' Meanwhile, Pakistan's Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani slammed Tillerson on Tuesday for his statements during a visit to Afghanistan a day before. "His [Tillerson] tone and tenor are not acceptable," the Senate chairman said. "His statement came one day before his visit to Pakistan. It seems like a viceroy told Tillerson what to say [on his visit]." The top US diplomat said in Kabul that Pakistan "needs to take a clear-eyed view of the situation that they are confronted with in terms of the number of terrorist organizations that find safe haven [in the country]." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pakistan Court Issues Arrest Warrant For Ousted Sharif By Ayaz Gul October 26, 2017 An anti-corruption court in Pakistan has issued an arrest warrant for ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif after he failed to appear in court to face corruption charges. The special court indicted the former Pakistani leader last week, along with his daughter and son-in-law, for alleged corruption involving the family's expensive London property. Sharif, who is currently in London where his wife is undergoing medical treatment, has since skipped repeated hearings. When the court reconvened on Thursday, Sharif's lawyer requested the former prime minister be exempted from appearances to allow him to remain with his ailing wife. But the judge rejected the request and directed authorities to arrest Sharif and bring him to the court on the date of the next hearing scheduled for November 3. It was not immediately known whether Sharif plans to return from abroad, but he can be taken into custody as soon as he lands in Pakistan, unless he is granted bail permissible under Pakistani law. Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and her husband Muhammad Safdar, have all pleaded not guilty and declared the corruption charges "groundless," "unfounded" and "frivolous." Sharif, 67, was disqualified by Pakistan's Supreme Court and removed from office in July for failing to declare a monthly income from a Dubai-based company. Pakistan's highest court also directed the anti-corruption National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to further investigate Sharif and conduct a trial. The corruption case stems from documents leaked last year from a Panama-based law firm that disclosed the family used offshore wealth registered under the names of Sharif's minor aged children to buy London property. A close Sharif aide, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, immediately replaced him as prime minister because his ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party (PML-N) enjoys a majority in the parliament. In a controversial move, the party has since re-elected Sharif as its leader in a bid to maintain unity in PML-N, critics say. During Thursday's judicial proceedings, Maryam and Safdar were present in the courtroom, though Sharif's two sons, who live in London and have also been charged in the same case, did not appear. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Journalists To Sue Security Service Over Demand For Telegram Encryption Keys Carl Schreck October 25, 2017 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 Russia's 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 country's media landscape since President Vladimir Putin came to power nearly 18 years ago, leaving social-media networks and other digital forums as the country's 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 Moscow's 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 Telegram's 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 don't 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 FSB's "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. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia- telegram-kashin-plyuschev-suing-fsb -durov/28815336.html Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Germany's Steinmeier Tells Putin Improving Relations 'Essential' RFE/RL October 25, 2017 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 Merkel's conservatives for the past four years. The German president also attended a ceremony for the return of ownership of Moscow's 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 Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/putin-steinmeier- russia-germany-gorbachev-memorial- cathedral/28814600.html Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address State Department Says 'Working On' Russia Sanctions, Contrasts 'Foreign Agent' Laws RFE/RL October 25, 2017 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 it's pretty complicated, that it can take some time, that they're 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. "Russia's 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 don't impact or affect the ability of them to report news and information. We just have them register. It's 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 about 100 affiliated radio stations inside Russia, but had lost them all by 2012 following a campaign of pressure by the authorities. With reporting by The Daily Beast Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-state- department-russia-sanctions -nauert-foreign-agent- rfe-voa/28814833.html Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Republicans Launch Probe Of Obama-Era Uranium Deal With Russia's Rosatom RFE/RL October 25, 2017 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 Russia's 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 Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-republicans- launch-probe-obama-era-uranium-deal- russia-rosatom/28814387.html Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taiwan sees 'new era' in China, urges renewed dialog Iran Press TV Thu Oct 26, 2017 07:33AM Taiwan says the recent changes in China's leadership mark a "turning point" that can be used to start dialog and improve cross-strait relations. Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen said on Wednesday that China's ruling party had entered into "a whole new era," and Taipei and Beijing needed to drop historical antagonisms and work toward a breakthrough in bilateral relations. "Right now is a turning point for change. I once again call on leaders of both sides to... seek a breakthrough in cross-strait relations and to benefit the long-term welfare of people on both sides and to forever eliminate hostilities and conflict," Tsai said at a forum in Taipei. The Taiwanese president, however, stressed that Taipei would not submit to pressure despite the island's goodwill toward China. China and Taiwan split amid a civil war in 1949, and relations have been tense. China continues to view self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory and subject to a diplomatic protocol known as "One China," according to which other countries should acknowledge Chinese sovereignty over Taiwan. Earlier in the day, and at the closing of China's Communist Party Congress, the party elected a new Politburo Standing Committee (PSC), reinstating Xi Jinping as president. Premier Li Keqiang was the only other member besides the president to retain his seat in the ruling PSC. Five new individuals were also elected. At the start of that Congress last week, President Xi had said that any attempt to separate Taiwan from China would be thwarted. In a swift response to Xi's comments, Taipei's Mainland Affairs Council said it was "absolutely" the right of Taiwan's 23 million people to decide their own future. Relations between China and Taiwan have further soured under Tsai, whose Democratic Progressive Party advocates Taiwan's formal "independence." Chinese officials are unexceptionally opposed to the separation of Taiwan from China, and it was not clear what Tsai meant by referring to the start of a "whole new era" in Chinese leadership. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address News - Nissan Tokyo show: Nissan says EVs to cost less by 2025 Nissan says tipping point where EVs cost the same as ICE cars will happen 2025 NISSAN believes the tipping point for electric vehicles becoming mainstream will occur in the middle of next decade as the Japanese car-maker now begins to ramp up its own EV product rollout. Nissan lifted the lid on its IMx electric crossover concept at the Tokyo motor show this week, previewing a new scalable EV platform that will be used on various upcoming models and offering a driving range of 600km. The company was first to market with a mass-produced electric vehicle, the Leaf, in 2010, and while it carries the title of worlds best-selling EV with more than 250,000 units sold as at December 2016 it remains a niche model by volume. Asked in Tokyo this week when EVs would become the dominant force in the automotive market, Nissan Motor Company vice-president of global product strategy Ivan Espinosa said there were a number of factors to consider. One thing is the regulatory costs of conventional technology today is gradually going up and it will keep getting worse and worse as we go, he said. With that said, at the same time we see a lot of governments pushing to get cleaner environments, cleaner cities, more stringent regulatory hurdles. The electric technology is one of the solutions to do that. One of the things is the cost of the technology is relatively high and it has to do mainly with battery cost. As this evolves and as the technology matures it is in its young age we can expect the cost to go down. And as the cost goes down and the conventional technology keeps going up, you will start seeing this shift. And we believe the shift will happen quickly. Nissan Motor Company chief planning officer Philippe Klein added that the tipping point for EVs to become more affordable and therefore more popular with consumers will take place by around 2025. We see this happening somewhere in the middle of the next decade, he said. At the same time the cost that will be imposed on the car industry for the new regulation, which is substantial, it is going to depend on the regions but will be substantial. And at the same time (will be) the continuous decrease of the cost of the electric vehicle technology. This decrease, we start to see the benefit of it. Mr Klein said there are realistic applications for EV technology and relevant markets will adopt the technology at a different pace. We are not saying that for all of the usages we are going to see an electric vehicle everywhere, it is not necessarily the best technology for a full-size truck towing a house in the US, he said. But for a lot of vehicles commuting every day, it is going to become an obvious technology, so that is going to trigger the pace of the deployment. Of course, it is depending on the usage the customers are doing with the cars, depending on the countries in terms of regulations in place, the fiscal system, the efforts made for infrastructure. So we are going to see a different pace. And it is not necessarily a gameplay between mature countries and emerging countries. If you look at most polluted cities, most of them are in emerging countries and this is creating a real problem. I think we are going to see different pace as a function of the environment, but the condition will start to be there in the middle of the next decade. Mr Espinosa added that consumer interest in the technology was growing in recent years and this would help facilitate quicker EV take-up. The other thing we are noticing changing very fast is customer interest in EVs is growing. It is because people are getting into the technology and experiencing the technology more and more, he said. When we launched the Leaf, we had great feedback from customers buying the car because the drive experience is very different. Because the fun to drive (experience) you get with the car is amazing and a completely different experience. What we thought some years ago were going to be customers that will not be interested in EVs, starting to change, starting to think, Why not? EV is a good proposition. So you start to see that also changing. Apart from the regulatory environment and technology cost viewpoint, customers are starting to be more and more interested in this technology. It is definitely going to happen and very, very fast. Nissan Motor Company executive vice-president for global marketing and sales, zero-emission vehicles and the battery business, Daniele Schillaci, reiterated that EVs would be the same price as internal combustion cars by about 2025, and acknowledged that while government incentives help EV take-up, it is the technology itself that appeals most to consumers. Incentives when you have a new technology, it has to accelerate acceptance of the technology, he said. But the most important thing is the technology itself, if the customer connects with the tech. And the EV tech clearly shows that the customer, when they experience an EV, most of them probably wont buy a traditional engine because once you use this EV experience, I am afraid if you move to a diesel, it wont be your first choice. Hence the importance of repositioning the EV like a product that meets the customer needs and try to make this product affordable. Which is exactly what Nissan is doing with the new Leaf. With new Leaf, if you look at what is happening, we are moving away from the niche, and we are democratising the EV to a wider reach that we have in the mass market and also with affordability. And now the result that I can tell you in Japan but also in other areas where we are taking first customer orders, is going exactly in that direction. People are just so impressed by the technology. And if you have incentives of course it is better, but if you dont have, if you connect with the technology at least you will consider that technology. The Leaf is being rolled out globally now ahead of an Australian launch late next year, while Mr Klein confirmed that the IMx crossover concept previewed a future production electric SUV. You have seen here at the show a crossover EV which is an exploration as I mentioned. You can expect us to come out with a crossover EV in the next few years, he said. Read more 25th of October 2017 Tokyo show: Nissan goes driverless with IMx concept All-electric Nissan IMx autonomous concept can drop you off and pick you up 3rd of October 2017 Nissan Europes EV plans laid bare Improved charging infrastructure, Leaf Nismo, e-NV200 van on the way from Nissan 18th of September 2017 Renault-Nissan Alliance announces 2022 business plan Alliance 2022 maps out six-year business plan for Nissan, Renault and Mitsubishi 12th of September 2017 Nissan exec challenges Tesla, pushes Leaf advantages Leaf aims for mainstream, yet becomes a more advanced Nissan: exec 6th of September 2017 First look: New-generation Nissan Leaf revealed Battery and electric motor boost headlines second-generation Nissan Leaf EV The BlackBerry Keyone Black Edition smartphone is steadily making its way to more countries around the world. The latest market it has entered is Australia, where the model is currently available through retailer JB Hi-Fi. As you can see, the all-black Keyone is being offered for AUD 899, which currently translates into around $695. As for deliveries, the listing says shipments begin within 3 days of placing order. So the wait isn't long. Some of the other markets that have already received this model include Singapore, Canada, UK, and India. BlackBerry had said the variant will arrive in key markets across Europe, North America, Middle East and Asia. Source Samung has started pushing out a new update to its mobile payments app Pay. Currently rolling out in India, the update brings along support for Android Oreo OS. What's interesting is that none of the South Korean company's smartphones have received the Android 8.0 update yet. So Samsung Pay getting Oreo support in India suggests the update could be arriving to at least some Samsung phones in the country. Alternatively the tech giant might be preparing to launch an Oreo beta program in India, as recent reports suggest such a program is currently being prepped for the US. Source | Via The Samsung Galaxy A7 (2018) has found its way to another benchmark Geekbench 4. Previously it was spotted on GFXBench with the Exynos 7885 chipset. This time theres more RAM 6GB instead of 4GB. And this is an F model, which means its headed to Europe. Samsung has started offering more RAM in China due to local competition, but it would be great to see Western models get extra memory too. Samsung Galaxy A7 (2018) scorecard by Geekbench 4.1.3 Earlier, we saw the Galaxy A5 (2018) with Snapdragon 660, the A7 will have a Qualcomm-powered version too. That model had 6GB of RAM too though it was a 0 model, meaning its bound for China. Theres not much to see here, not even Oreo. Yep, the Galaxy A7 (2018) is still chewing Android 7.1 Nougat. If youre curious, you can look at 3D renders to see how the new 18:9 screen will affect the design. And yes, it will have a Bixby button (well, Bixby 2.0 for what thats worth). Via (in Dutch) The Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2017) is almost ready to make its debut in the US. Today the Korean company has officially announced that the tablet is headed to that market, where it will be released on November 1. You'll be able to pick one up from Samsung's own online store, in two colors: black and silver. The Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2017) will be priced at $229.99. For that amount of cash you're getting a metal frame with rounded edges, an 8-inch 1,280x800 touchscreen with 480 nits brightness, Android 7.1.1 Nougat pre-installed, and a 5,000 mAh battery. Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2017) The tablet is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 425 chipset, aided by 2GB of RAM. 32GB of storage is built-in, and microSD cards are supported (up to 256GB). On the rear there's an 8 MP autofocus camera with a LED flash, and on the front you'll find a 5 MP unit. The charging port is USB Type-C and for connectivity you get Wi-Fi 802.11n and Bluetooth 4.2. Source Partnership for Economic Development names new president Brittany Jones Brady was named president of the Partnership for Economic Development, effective Oct. 26, 2017. The Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development has named Brittany Jones Brady, the jobs-creating agency's second-in-command, as president of the organization effective today. Moving quickly to name a successor to Andrew Tate, whose last day is today after 10 years of leading a highly successful industry-recruiting effort, the board voted unanimously to turn the reins over to Brady, an ninth generation Henderson County native who has been at the agency for seven years. Brittany has proven to our Board of Directors that she is prepared to lead the Partnership, and we are excited about the future of our organization under her leadership," said Partnership Chair Pat Wagner, controller of Contintental Automotive. "We have full faith that she is the right person to lead Henderson Countys economic development efforts." Brady started with the Partnership in a marketing and communications and gradually took on responsibility for critical programs within the organization, including developing Made in Henderson County and a more focused business development strategy. Her responsibilities have included lead generation, external marketing, events, web development, RFI and proposal production, workforce development efforts and client handling, and rose to the position of vice president. A graduate of North Henderson High School, she has a bachelor of science degree from East Tennessee State University and a masters degree in international hospitality and tourism management from the University of South Carolina. "We'll continue to be the organization that we've been but there have been changes over the past two years," she said. "A lot the sites and that attracted Sierra Nevada and GG Linamar are no longer available so that changes the projects were working on. The workforce is a little tighters than it once was. We still have some good sites available." The Partnership will continue to focus on recruiting projects that protect "the assets we love in Henderson County" while helping the employment base grow. Are any new ones in the pipeline? "We are always working projects," she said, though, "nothing we can share at this time." Her promotion to lead the organization is not the only big life change for Brady. She and her husband, Zach, are expecting their child, a boy, in December. When Brittany speaks to clients and companies about her love for this community, it carries weight and authenticity," said Michael Edney, chairman of the Henderson County Board of Commissioners. "She is the perfect choice to lead this organization, and Henderson County looks forward to continued success in economic development." The Partnership has a strong history of engagement and results, Brady said. Im excited to lead the organization that protects and develops the economy that I also call home. A native of the Raleigh area and graduate of UNC at Chapel Hill, Tate is leaving Hendersonville to become vice president of real estate for the North Carolina Railroad Co. For more information about the Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development and its role in protecting and building a strong local economy, visit www.hcped.org. 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. Timothee Semelin has been appointed corporate director of digital marketing and transformation for Rosewood Hotel Group. In his role, Semelin will be responsible for building the hotel groups digital culture and exploring emerging trends in the technology space to enhance the digital guest experience. Semelin brings over 10 years of experience in sales and marketing strategies, with a high level of competency in partnership marketing within the digital space. Prior to joining Rosewood Hotel Group, Semelin was regional account director for marketing solutions in China, Hong Kong and South Korea at Linkedin. Previously, he served as vice president of sales and marketing at YouFu Media in China and client director at Posterscope China, part of Dentsu Aegis Network China. A native of France, Semelin holds a Bachelors degree from the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing and he speaks French, Mandarin and English. Kinseth Hospitality Companies is pleased to announce the official ground breaking of the TowePlace Suites Marion, Iowa took place on October 25, 2017. The groundbreaking ceremony took place at the construction site of the TownePlace Suites by Marriott located at 2823 7th Avenue. Speakers including: Nick Glew President of MEDCO (Marion Economic Development Corp), Marion Mayor Nick AbouAssaly, Julie Stow Director of Meetings & Conventions for Go Cedar Rapids, and Ben Kinseth Vice President of Kinseth Hospitality shared their excitement about the new hotel. "This is an important groundbreaking for many, many reasons" shared Nick Glew. "First of all it is really our first significant redevelopment here within Marion's central corridor. The first project is always one of, if not the most, important projects as we talk about the grand vision of our central corridor project. Seeing the first pieces of this come to fruition is really exciting." Mayor AbouAssaly told guest in attendance, "The first project out of the gate had to be something that was significant and substantial, something that would set the standard and drive the redevelopment of the entire area. This {TownePlace Suites Marion} is what we were hoping for, a really wonderful hotel, a quality hotel in our central business district which will be a catalyst and game changer! Ben Kinseth told guests more about the coming hotel, "88 rooms that we're building in this TownePlace Suites by Marriott, there will be a kitchenette in every room. If you want to stay 30 nights, this hotel will be perfect for you, if you want to stay 1 night it's just as perfect for you. Really all business segments will love this hotel, and that's really what we love about TownePlace Suites." Guests in attendance were able to learn more about the project, see floorplans and exterior renderings, take home information about the hotel as well as enjoys some desserts. TownePlace Suites Marion When completed, this all suite extended stay hotel will provide guests with a fully stocked kitchen and separate areas to work and sleep giving guests the space they need to spread out and settle in. Guests will also receive complimentary hot breakfast, free wifi, and access to our business center, fitness center, and indoor pool! Guests will easily be able to make reservations through Marriott's Global reservation system and earn Marriott Rewards points for every stay. About Kinseth Hospitality Kinseth Hospitality is a leading hotel management, development and ownership company. KHC has a proven track record of developing and operating award-winning hotels, restaurant and meeting facilities. Kinseth Hospitality is based in North Liberty, Iowa, and currently operates over 65 hotels and 5 branded restaurants in 12 states. For more information regarding KHC please contact our Corporate Sales and Marketing Team at 319-626-5600 or visit www.kinseth.com. Jeff Schrader 847-202-7954 Kinseth View source Work4Stars, an executive search and recruitment company focused on the hospitality, tourism, and events sectors, has partnered with the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) to offer hospitality training and professional certification to current hospitality professionals and those seeking a career in hospitality and tourism. Work4Stars is AHLEI's first global partner in Morocco and north Africa. Tourism is the second-largest job creator in the kingdom of Morocco, which has set a goal of becoming one of the world's top 20 tourist destinations by 2020. The program, known as Vision 2020, has already created an increase in the number of hotel rooms and generated a need for hospitality training for 130,000 people. "It is one of our goals to be closely involved in the professional preparation of the future generation and provide them with new opportunities to be work-ready and to assist them during their career path," said Rita Levy, founder and managing director of Work4Stars. "In this respect, we want to actively collaborate with the development of Vision 2020." About 11 million tourists are expected to visit Morocco, a number which should rise to 20 million by 2020. All of this has as an immediate consequence that training and formation of hospitality professionals is to be considered a high level priority by the government and their institutional entities. Taking into account the quality requirements of Vision 2020, Levy noted that certain actions should be carried out by those involved in training and professional development. These include: Reinforcing service dimensions, social skills, and know-how Reinforcing language skills Developing middle-management training Adapting the training to the evolution of the sector and to the diversity of the touristic offer: events management (sportive, cultural and entertaining events), new niches (golf, well-being), and new trades (e-tourism). "Work4Stars intends to respond to the requirements of this growing international demand by offering several of AHLEI's training modules in Morocco," said Levy. These trainings include Guest Service Gold and the Certified Guest Service Professional (CGSP) certification; Supervisory Skill Builders and the Certified Hospitality Supervisor (CHS) certification; and professional certifications for mid-level and upper-level hospitality managers and executives. The AHLEI programs include detailed training, followed by a comprehensive exam. After passing the exam, successful participants will receive a professional hospitality certification, which is unique in Morocco and which will carry a special designation in their CV. It can be obtained for all levels, from line-level through hospitality management. "AHLEI is truly excited to partner with Work4Stars to bring our professional development and training programs to the hotel industry in Morocco," said Ed Kastli, MBS, CMHS, CGSP, vice president, international sales for AHLEI. "As one of the top destinations in MENA, Morocco is realizing that the quality of their tourism infrastructure and product offerings need to go hand-in-hand with efficient customer service that meets and exceeds the expectations and aspirations of its visitors. We are keen to contribute our resources to assist Morocco in expanding its hospitality and tourism standards." About the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) Established in 1953 as the nonprofit education and training arm of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), AHLEI's mission is to be the preferred provider of quality resources to educate, develop, and certify hospitality educators, students and professionals worldwide. AHLEI became part of the National Restaurant Association" Training & Certification division in 2017, connecting and leveraging the resources of two organizations that are deeply committed to a vision of career success and upward mobility for current and future hospitality, restaurant, and food service employees. Elizabeth Johnson Senior PR & Marketing Manager 407-999-8174 Tourism is booming like never before in the Land of the Rising Sun as visitors flock from across Asia and further afield. While rising numbers are in line with government plans to welcome 60 million tourists by 2030 to help offset struggling areas of the Japanese economy, the hotel industry faces in own challenges in keeping up with growing demand for rooms. Last year, hotel construction starts doubled to 1.96 million square metres, reaching an 18 year high. Major hotel operators are rushing to open before the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 Marriott leads the pack with five properties as it rebrands existing hotels. Meanwhile, small local hoteliers are also keen for a slice of the tourism boom. Many of the country's traditional love hotels are transforming themselves into cosy and low-priced "boutique hotels" to fill a gap in the lower-end of the market. "It is natural for love hotel owner-operators who see decreasing revenue to convert their properties into hotels targeting inbound tourists. In fact, this phenomenon was seen in Seoul, South Korea five-six years ago, when Seoul was packed with Chinese tourists," says Tom Sawayanagi, International Director of JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group. Sawayanagi adds that as Japan traditionally lacks lifestyle boutique hotels, brands such as Andaz, Moxy and Edition are bringing something new to the market. Andaz Tokyo opened its doors in 2014 while Moxy launches in Tokyo and Osaka this year, and Edition is planning two properties in the capital in 2020. Even Japanese lifestyle brand Muji is offering its own version of hospitality in Ginza in 2019. Accommodation beyond hotels Japan has not been immune from the burgeoning home rentals market led by the like of Airbnb. However, new laws for home-sharing services aim to stamp out some of the less desirable side of the sector and help to provide more regulated options to give travelers a greater choice of high quality accommodation. "Japan has seen massive illegal quasi-hotel operations of residential homes in recent times. The Osaka city government recently reported that the room count under the illegal operation was estimated at one-third of the hotel rooms," says Sawayanagi. "Once the so-called Airbnb law is enacted in 2018, it is expected that some (if not all) of the illegal operations will be wiped out from the market." Managing supply and demand But could Japan be heading for a glut with supply soon outstripping demand? The industry is already raising alarm bells over the spike in rooms. "There has been a rapid growth of the hotel industry from 2013 to 2016 and this year seems to be a period of consolidation," observes Sawayanagi. "New supply is likely to peak in 2019." Hotels in Tokyo and Osaka, in particular, could be run into problems as many of Japan's repeat inbound travelers head off to explore other destinations within the country. Sawayanagi points out: "In addition, the high average room rates in city centres of Tokyo and Osaka are likely to drive travelers to satellite cities. At the same time, travellers could now opt for Airbnb-styled accommodation as a cheaper, more accessible alternative." There's still reason to be optimistic. Japan remains on track to achieve 40 million visitors by 2020 as growth rate hovers around 15 percent annually. Japanese authorities announced a year-on-year increase of 16.8 percent when a record 2.68 million tourists arrived in the past July alone. The relatively favourable exchange rate for foreign travelers certainly has a role to play, says Sawayanagi. "Moreover, the yen appears to be steady for the near future, staying at its current exchange rate, which bodes well for inbound travelers," he adds. Handling the influx The biggest challenge to Japan's accommodation sector in future times may not be oversupply but shortage of labor. Due to a lack of construction workers and increasing demand for building projects linked to both the Olympic Games and hotels, construction costs are kept high. The labour crunch, especially in resort areas, affects operating costs and ultimately the bottom line. "If the Japanese government is serious to boost the tourism market, it needs to think about an opening-up of the labor market by easing labor visas," points out Sawayanagi. Current geopolitical uncertainty in the Korean peninsula might affect tourism too. But for now travelers remain undaunted; travel agencies in Hong Kong report that there has no decline in the numbers flocking to Japan. And for Japan's accommodation market, the immediate focus is very much on playing catch-up. About JLL JLL (NYSE: JLL) is a leading professional services firm that specializes in real estate and investment management. JLL shapes the future of real estate for a better world by using the most advanced technology to create rewarding opportunities, amazing spaces and sustainable real estate solutions for our clients, our people and our communities. JLL is a Fortune 500 company with annual revenue of $19.4 billion, operations in over 80 countries and a global workforce of more than 100,000 as of March 31, 2022. JLL is the brand name, and a registered trademark, of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated. For further information, visit jll.com. Cosima Merck Vice President Marketing +1 312 228 3518 JLL View source When discussing the project pipeline in the United Kingdom, one is often tempted to solely focus on London, one of the great hospitality cities in the entire world. There are, however, multiple destinations within the United Kingdom where the pipelines are filled with varied and robust projects, according to information from the TOPHOTELCONSTRUCTION database. While London is, of course, the most vibrant market in the United Kingdom, places like Belfast and Manchester are also quite healthy when it comes to hotel projects that are underway. A quick look at the numbers is enough to reveal that, with London's pipeline currently containing 85 projects, while Manchester has 17 underway and Belfast has 12. In total, the United Kingdom is home to 238 projects, with 99 of those slated to debut in 2018. Once all of these projects have come to fruition, it will mean an addition of 37,908 rooms in the UK. Source: TOPHOTELPROJECTS To truly understand what this growth will look like, it behooves the savvy hotel owner to stay abreast of some of the marquee projects in the individual markets that make up the hospitality industry in the UK. With that in mind, let's take a look: Motel One Manchester Dickinson Street Let's start by taking a look at a property outside of London and north a ways in Manchester. The Motel One Manchester Dickinson Street is currently in the pre planning phase, with its scheduled completion set for sometime in 2020. This is actually sort of a two in one project, as the ground level and eight upper floors of this property will be part of the Motel One, and the floors above will be considered a separate project called Staycity Hotel [READ MORE] Motel One Glasgow Sticking with the same brand, but still not delving in to the London market, we have the Motel One Glasgow, which is currently under construction and slated to debut in the first quarter of 2018. When it does, it will rise 13 stories and feature a double height foyer and two setback penthouse levels. It will also have a total of 374 rooms [READ MORE] Belfast Grand Central Hotel For those who are unfamiliar with the United Kingdom, Belfast is the largest city in Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK. The Belfast Grand Central Hotel is currently under construction there after Hasting Hotels bought Windsor House, Ireland's tallest office block, in the city center. The company is, of course, converting the property into a hotel, or we wouldn't be discussing it here. It's currently slated to open in the third quarter of 2018, offering 304 rooms for guests [READ MORE] Hard Rock Hotel London Finally, we get to a property in the United Kingdom's marquee city with the Hard Rock Hotel London. This hotel is slated to open in the second quarter of 2019, and when it does it will feature a whopping 900 rooms for guests, making it easily the largest hotel on our list [READ MORE] More information about UK Hotel Projects can be found on TOPHOTELPROJECTS, the specialized service provider in the exchange of cutting-edge information of hotel construction in the international hospitality industry. Jule Grass Marketing Manager +49 4261 4140 309 TOPHOTELPROJECTS Kisarazu Washington Hotel Opens on Tokyo Bay Kisarazu, a port city located on the Boso Peninsula east of Tokyo on Tokyo Bay, boasts easy access to key locations around Tokyo via the Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line, a bridge-tunnel connecting Kisarazu and Tokyo-neighboring Kawasaki. Fujita Kanko Inc. announced that it will open Kisarazu Washington Hotel on October 28th in Kisarazu City in Chiba Prefecture. The hotel will be the 26th and newest property in the company's Washington Hotel brand, a collection of modestly-priced, simple yet functional hotels located in key destinations throughout Japan. Kisarazu, a port city located on the Boso Peninsula east of Tokyo on Tokyo Bay, boasts easy access to key locations around Tokyo via the Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line, a bridge-tunnel connecting Kisarazu and Tokyo-neighboring Kawasaki. This route provides fast access to Haneda airport (approximately 30-minute drive), and Tokyo's city center (approximately 50-minute or longer drive). Public transportation also connects Kisarazu with these gateway destinations, as well as with popular leisure spots all over the Boso Peninsula, such as the 41-mile long Kujukuri Beach and others offering scenic beauty and seasonal activities surrounded by nature. "Our Washington Hotel brand stands for affordable comfort and convenience," said Akira Segawa, President and CEO of Fujita Kanko. "Whether you are traveling for business or pleasure, Washington Hotels are situated in prime locations, and Kisarazu is a perfect addition to our current roster. Although somewhat under-rated, Chiba is a popular leisure destination for Japanese, and we want to help international visitors discover it." The 146-room hotel is conveniently located only one minute from the Kisarazu Japan Railway (JR) station. All guest rooms feature separate toilets/bathrooms for additional comfort. The hotel facilities include a banquet room and a restaurant featuring an open kitchen that serves dishes prepared with fresh local produce and seafood from Chiba. Rack rates are 12,960 yen for single rooms and 16,200 yen for double rooms. Fujita Kanko has been strategically adding new hotels in destinations with high potential. Future scheduled openings include Hotel Gracery Asakusa and Hotel Gracery Seoul in 2018, and Hotel Gracery Taipei in 2019. Page Content Montreal, 26 October 2017 The fight against international terrorist and criminal movements took another step forward this week, as experts and senior officials gathered for ICAOs 13th Traveller Identification Programme (TRIP) Strategy Symposium. The ICAO TRIP strategy reinforces the global line of defence against international terrorist movements, cross border crime, and the many other threats to the safety and security of civil society and international aviation, stressed ICAO Secretary General Dr. Fang Liu in her opening address to the event. The main part of our work in this area is conducted under Annex 9 to the Chicago Convention, on Facilitation. Facilitation activities are strongly supportive of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the ICAO TRIP Strategy also significantly contributes to UN Security Council Resolutions 2178 and 2309. The worlds foremost travel document and identity management event, this latest edition of the TRIP Symposium is seen as an important step in maintaining the global momentum on anti-terrorism priorities recently achieved through the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Dr. Liu presented an aviation security brief to the UN Security Council this September, having also been invited to its Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) meeting in July of 2017. Along with enhanced screening and security checks, the CTC has highlighted the important role of airlines in tracking the global movement of higher risk passengers. Specifically, the CTC recognized the importance of national authorities sharing advanced passenger information (API), Dr. Liu noted. And while many States have not yet introduced related API programmes, I would like to remind them all that API sharing became mandatory under ICAO Annex 9 as of 23 October this year. 2017 TRIP Symposium sessions provided participants with new insights into latest screening and risk-based security measures, while stressing the importance of partnerships and capacity-building as States work to shore up their respective lines of defence. States implementation of the TRIP strategy requires coordinated action between many government and industry entities, Dr. Liu commented, but we are also aware that TRIP implementation capacities vary from government to government. ICAO and States are addressing this gap by fostering cooperation among both States and industry, intensifying coordination at regional and local levels, and by mobilizing donor contributions. The extended TRIP planning and implementation guidance needed by States was further addressed at the event through the launch of ICAOs TRIP Compendium. The new and comprehensive reference document showcases related initiatives by partners such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), INTERPOL, the European Union, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), while further collating a range of additional ICAO guidance material. The 2017 TRIP Symposium coincided with two important ICAO workshops on its Public Key Directory (PKD) and new approaches to API, side-events conducted in partnership with the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (UNCTED) and other international organizations. Panama has recently become the 59th State to take advantage of the PKDs encrypted validation, which maximizes the benefits of ePassport security, but Dr. Liu stressed that ICAO expects to see greater buy-in the months ahead. Although more than 80 per cent of the ePassports in global circulation are issued by States already participating in the PKD, many are still not taking advantage of it to authenticate the chip-based data, she reiterated. The 2017 TRIP Symposium was centred around the theme of Making Air Travel more Secure and Efficient, reflecting the fact that well-designed security technologies also support the improvement of the passenger experience and the efficiency of facilitation processes more generally. It is only by ensuring both of these priorities in a balanced way that our proposed solutions will be truly sustainable, Dr. Liu concluded. While benefitting from the event and its workshops, 2017 TRIP Symposium participants also enjoyed a wide-ranging exhibition showcasing the latest industry technology and process innovations. The event gathered close to 600 officials from 82 States and 14 international organizations and will conclude at ICAO today. Resources for Editors About ICAO A specialized agency of the United Nations, ICAO was created in 1944 to promote the safe and orderly development of international civil aviation throughout the world. It sets standards and regulations necessary for aviation safety, security, efficiency, capacity and environmental protection, amongst many other priorities. The Organization serves as the forum for cooperation in all fields of civil aviation among its 191 Member States. ICAO and Aviation Security and Facilitation The 13th Symposium and Exhibition on ICAO TRIP Contacts Anthony Philbin Chief, Communications aphilbin@icao.int +1 514-954-8220 +1 438-402-8886 (mobile) Twitter: @ICAO William Raillant-Clark Communications Officer wraillantclark@icao.int +1 514-954-6705 +1 514-409-0705 (mobile) Twitter: @wraillantclark LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/raillantclark/ Gondhoraj Momos Take Over West Bengal; Have You Tried Them Yet? Troops on duty beside barbed wire barriers in the Falls Road area of Belfast during the Troubles Children as young as six are suffering from trauma related to the Troubles, an Irish government committee has been told. The Wave Trauma Centre, which supports people affected by the conflict, said the charity had received a number of referrals of young children who had not been born at the time of the Troubles, but had been traumatised by it second hand. The charity's CEO Sandra Peake was addressing the Dail parliament's Good Friday Agreement Implementation Committee in an evidence session on the impact of legacy issues from the conflict. She said: "In the last year we've had 650 people referred to us, some as young as six years old." Ms Peake said this could sometimes occur as adults traumatised by the conflict became overprotective of their children, to the extent that it had a negative effect on the children's mental health. She said: "Recently, I was in a house which was fortified with metal gates and there were young children living behind them, because the parents were frightened. "If you think that mortality (from old age of people traumatised by the Troubles) will sort it out - you're wrong. It just gets passed to the next generation." Ms Peake called on politicians in London, Dublin and Belfast to refocus their efforts on victims and survivors of the conflict to ensure legacy cases were heard and that injured people received adequate financial support for their needs. Victims' advocacy groups have previously criticised Northern Ireland's politicians over what they consider to be a failure to agree on a way to deal with victims and survivors of the conflict. Research conducted by Ulster University in 2015 found that 30% of the population in Northern Ireland suffer from a mental health problem, with half of these thought to be specifically related to trauma from the Troubles. Brexit Secretary David Davis has been forced to row back on claims that British MPs may only be given a vote on the deal pulling the UK out of the European Union after the country had quit. He said the withdrawal agreement could go down to the wire, and added that it could be that the British parliament wouldn't get a chance to examine the deal until after March 2019. "It could be, yeah. It [the vote] can't come before we have the deal," Mr Davis said, although he reiterated that MPs would be able to vote on the deal before the European Parliament does so. But Prime Minister Theresa May later appeared to contradict Mr Davis, telling MPs she was "confident" a deal would be secured in time for it to go before MPs. Officials in the Department for Exiting the European Union then issued a statement clarifying the Brexit Secretary's comments, saying they were working to reach an agreement on the final deal "in good time" before they leave the EU in March 2019. Mr Davis had been speaking at the Exiting the European Union Committee. He also told the committee that a transition deal should be agreed early next year, but that a no-deal option won't be taken off the table. "I would be aiming to get, certainly, the outlines of it agreed - if we could - in the first quarter [of 2018] ... but it's a negotiation," the Brexit Secretary added. It came as the head of the PSNI warned that a hard border on the island of Ireland could be exploited by criminals and violent dissident republicans Chief Superintendent George Hamilton said border technology and any staff would need to be protected, and officers doing that work could themselves become targets. "Inevitably, you'd need to have some manifestation of the state at the border, probably in terms of people, but even in terms of technology. Those people and technology would need to be protected. Probably police officers in that arena may in turn become a target," Mr Hamilton told the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee. He said the PSNI, in co-operation with the gardai, police the border in terms of immigration and crime in an "unpredictable" and "agile" manner. He said that even in the days of the Troubles, when there were fixed posts, the border was porous. Mr Davis told the Exiting the European Union Committee that one of his aims was to get an outcome that "doesn't do harm to Ireland". "They have got a great deal of investment in maintaining sales to us, and through us to the continent," Mr Davis said. He also said that it remains the British government's position that there will be no physical border or infrastructure on the border after Brexit. He said the UK government believes that to do this, there would need to be much greater use of so-called Authorised Economic Operators. In those cases, checks are carried out in the facilities owned by those operators by customs officials. "There are two sides to this and it does mean that the European Union ought to agree with the Irish Republic that it can do similar things," Mr Davis said. The Brexit Secretary said he believes that the Government here believes that there can be no hard border if there's no deal. "There's been a change of government. We haven't really had the time to settle down, although the Prime Minister has seen the Taoiseach twice. "The Commission has shown some degree of scepticism. We have taken the view bluntly that this is going to be completely dependent on the future relationship, which we will talk through when we get to that point." Mr Davis said he believed Britain would be able to seal a trade-and-customs arrangement by the end of the two-year exit process in March 2019, and that it was important to do so. A border will have to be imposed post Brexit regardless of any UK/EU trade deal, former World Trade Organisation (WTO) chief Pascal Lamy has warned. Mr Lamy who is on a two day visit to Dublin - said the moment a country leaves the single market, borders go up. He said the border question cannot be evaded. Whatever UK/EU trade regime will be negotiated, assuming there will be one, there will have to be a border, the former trade chief told an event organised by Dublin City Universitys Brexit Institute. The moment you exit the internal market, you have borders. Mr Lamy, who was also chief of staff to former European Commission president Jacques Delors, said he hasnt found a solution to the border question. I havent found any solution. And the reason is that the 'no border' does not exist. He also said there would have to be checks to ensure that goods brought across the border comply with standards. Mr Lamy said he had looked at the Swedish/Norway border, which he described as a serious border. He said nothing will prevent Brexit from transforming the situation with the border. The only solution, the only question is where is the border? And that of course is a million dollar question. The former WTO director general said it may be convenient not to recognise now that there will have to be a border and that that has to be dealt with. If whatever arrangement implies a border, you cannot evade the border question, Mr Lamy said. I can understand why it is convenient to do that. Mr Lamy also said that the claim from Prime Minister Theresa May that no deal is a better than a bad deal, is a bad omen. When I hear a negotiator starting at the very beginning outlining no deal is better than a bad deal, it is not a good sign, Mr Lamy said. Some supermarket shelves in France are sitting empty and the price of croissants on the rise, creating a headache for the government just as it tries to make the food chain fairer for farmers. Soaring prices in France come as butter makes a resurgence among consumers, but production of butter has not increased to the same extent. For French consumers, where butter makes up about a quarter of a croissant's ingredients, they price is being passed back onto them, or in some cases they have not been able to source their daily pastries. Irish butter production is running 12pc ahead of last year, according to CSO figures and Ornua CEO Kevin Lane said recently that butter prices have reached an all-time high in recent months with prices of 7,000/t being recorded, and said prices should start to level off shortly. Expand Close Placards notify clients of the butter shortage on shelves with milk products in a supermarket in Nice, France. The placards read "Dear customers, due to a lack of raw materials, our suppliers are not able to deliver for the moment all our orders of butter" (L) and "butter shortage for unlimited duration, due to a drop in production and a rise in world demand and price conflict with large retailers". REUTERS/Eric Gaillard / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Placards notify clients of the butter shortage on shelves with milk products in a supermarket in Nice, France. The placards read "Dear customers, due to a lack of raw materials, our suppliers are not able to deliver for the moment all our orders of butter" (L) and "butter shortage for unlimited duration, due to a drop in production and a rise in world demand and price conflict with large retailers". REUTERS/Eric Gaillard "We have a view that butter has peaked. It's typical in normal years that butter is at its highest as we get in to the very important Thanksgiving and Christmas buying period. It's typically done through September and October," he said. However, others disagree and say butter prices are not yet at their peak in Europe and with Ireland is a significant exporter of butter in Europe, in value terms, demand from Europe could see increased amounts of Irish butter exports. However, Irish butter lags significantly behind its European counterparts in price - 200/t behind the EU average. Peder Tuborgh, CEO of Danish-based dairy co-operative Arla Foods, said world milk stocks are very low and that there has been a scarcity of milk in the whole world after the very low prices last year. There is a big lack of fat, cream and butter products everywhere in Europe. It will not at all be possible to meet demand up to Christmas. It is those forces that are dragging up the prices significantly, Tuborgh said. Butter prices have fallen by almost 20pc in October, but they remain the most expensive in the world. Rabobank's Global Head of Dairy Kevin Bellamy explained that while the removal of milk quotas has masked an extraordinary consumer trend away from eating margarine and towards eating butter. Food manufacturers have also moved in the direction of butter as consumers demanded more 'natural' foods, he said. "Proof of this trend, if needed, is provided by the fact that during the recent period of oversupply of milk, dairy protein prices had to be supported by public buying of skimmed milk powder, while butter prices remained well above the 'safety net' zone. "Interestingly, while demand and prices for butter have been rising, the low price of dairy protein has meant that often for dairies, the most profitable use of milk has been to make cheese rather than butter and milk powder." And this, he says, has led to a shortage of butter. High prices, he said, are already choking off demand among some consumers, and further price increases will see food manufacturers driven to reformulate use to cheaper fat sources. "Luckily for Irish farmers this will happen in the slack production months - and it will be next season that any price effects will be felt." Croissant Price Speaking in his traditional bakery in Paris, Samir Kichou said he had not yet increased his prices because of extra butter costs but may have to soon. Because the year-end holidays are approaching, with Christmas preparations and particularly the Galette des Rois cake which needs a lot of butter, if there is not a significant decline, we will be forced to pass on the price rise, he said. Supermarkets in the capital and others parts of France have left gaps in their butter sections, with some stores displaying signs explaining a shortage for certain brands. French and Irish dairy farmers have complained that they get little benefit from soaring butter markets, with farming organisations in Ireland saying that Irish dairy farmers should be receiving more for their milk. The problem is that on the French market the right signal was not given to dairy farmers, since prices were not adjusted in relation to the drop in dairy supply, said Dominique Charge, president of Frances federation of dairy cooperatives. The butter-supply tensions in France highlight the challenges faced by President Emmanuel Macron to honor an election pledge to change practices in the food chain so farmers get a better deal. Additional reporting by Reuters. One of the largest and best-known Ford tractors collectors in the UK passed away recently from a short illness, but his funeral cortege was an amazing tribute to his passion. Frederick Potter's love of Ford tractors came from his father, Duke, and had grown to around 60 before he passed away after a short battle with cancer this year. He was given a final send off by family, friends and neighbours with a fitting tribute of his passion for Ford tractors with around 45 tractors been driven to mark the occasion. "Fred was adamant the tractor pulling his coffin would not break down - as he would not be there to fix it if it did!" Instead, Philip was in the tractor that pulled the coffin, while Ali followed in the first tractor after the coffin. The Potters, who live in Dauntsey, Chippenham, Wiltshire have a tractor collection dates back from 1927 and is mainly made up of Ford tractors, including many tractors they bought themselves. "We still have the first tractor Fred's father bought new from TH Whites when they first opened in Wiltshire," Ali said. We need your consent to load this Social Media content We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content. Manage Preference Over the years the Potters built up their Ford tractor collection and today, while it has New Hollands (which encompasses the Ford brand), the collection is mainly Ford. While the Potters don't show the tractors, they do take some of them to working events, to let people see them in action and according to Ali, it was the ideal way to mark Fred's funera. "Fred came home from hospital on September 8 and passed away the following day. His funeral took place on September 16 - the same date as his late father's birthday and the same date Fred bought his first tractor." "If you could look back and say that's when it was going to happen, that would have been the date." The arrival on a lot of farms of the 70pc Basic Payment Advance last week took the "sharp edge" off a poor sheep price. However, sheep farmers are not that easily blinded. The situation with the factories was that lamb prices remained either unchanged, as in the case of the two ICMs at 4.40/kg+10c/kg quality bonus, or in the case of Kildare Chilling and Kepak Athleague moved slightly upwards to a base of 4.55kg plus their respective 10c and 5c per kg bonuses. The one exception to this was Moyvalley Meats, who reduced their price by 5c/kg to 4.55/kg. Dawn Meats Ballyhaunis continue for the third week in succession to play their cards close to their chest and held back yet again on giving an official quote yesterday. The general feeling from both the IFA and ICSA is that numbers of quality lamb are tightening as recent big kills and poor thrive due to the bad weather hit supplies. One industry commentator told me that if a farmer has the quality a factory wants, "he won't be let slip for the want of five cent". Allowing that the factory trade appears to be tightening, where does that leave lamb prices on the ground? The answer is at 4.65-4.75/kg. The story on cull ewes is that official quotes yesterday yet again remained unchanged, with all those involved in that end of the trade continuing to quote a base of 2.40/kg and bonuses, as per table below. On the ground, cull ewe is making 2.50-2.60/kg. With all the major players either holding steady or improved this week and with mart prices for factory weight lamb reported as "improved by 2-3/hd", as in the case at Carnew last Thursday, the background mood seems to be positive. How long it will take for that to be translated into further price increases depends on numbers. IFA's sheep chairman John Lynskey said that prices "have moved on" and that farmers would want to be aware of that and also be aware of the influence the Christmas market exerts on prices even at this remove. Looking to France, Bord Bia reports that trade up to the middle of this month remained slow, with limited retail promotions taking place. Meanwhile, in New Zealand throughputs are down 4pc but production of lamb meat is back only 3pc due to heavier carcases. Exports from New Zealand to the EU are reported as being back 10pc this year due to a lower volume of trade with the UK. When Kansas farmer Tom Giessel drove over a deer carcass and punctured a tire on his combine during harvest this fall, he did not have the time or cash to fix it. He borrowed his neighbors tractor to finish. US farmers are cutting costs any way they can to compete against cheaper producers in Argentina and Brazil. Four years of global oversupply have pushed down grain prices, reduced agricultural revenues and put more expensive producers under financial pressure. In response, US farmers have bought cheaper seeds, spent less on fertilizers and delayed equipment purchases as they seek to ride out the downturn. But more bumper harvest forecasts and rising energy prices herald another tough year for farmers in 2018. The logical thing to do is stop farming, said Giessel, 64, who farms about 5,000 acres and has worked on the land all of his adult life. Giessel has cut spending on what he can control - seeds, chemicals, fertilizer, rented land - and chewed through his farms savings. He stands to lose $93 an acre, or nearly $15,000, on one corn field alone this year. My burn rate is a raging fire. And I am no different than anyone else out here, Giessel said. Some farmers have had to sell assets to keep afloat. Others have gone into bankruptcy. US farmers have taken another hit this year because of rising prices of labor, fuel and electricity. Those costs together account for about 14.5pc of total expenses and are largely out of farmers control. Interest expenses have also risen as banks have tightened credit to the agricultural sector. These items were expected to push overall costs up 1.3pc in 2017, which would mark the first year since 2014 that farmers have failed to reduce total costs. Farmers cut $40.20 billion to bring total costs down to $350.49 billion between 2014 and 2016, according to the US Agriculture Departments Economic Research Service. The downturn in spending has hurt farm equipment manufacturers. Sales in the agriculture division at Deere & Co (DE.N) and CNH Industrial (CNHI.MI) fell sharply during 2015 and 2016. Deere expects farm equipment sales in the US and Canada to be down another 5pc this year, and CNH said in July that sales in North America were down. Crop Prices & Yields Falls in crop prices have outpaced the cuts farmers have made in spending. Corn futures Cv1 have dropped about 12pc during 2017 from 2014 averages while soybean prices Sv1 are 17pc lower and wheat Wv1 has tumbled 24pc. Farmers are looking for bigger yields through better seed and pesticide technology to improve their ability to compete with their counterparts in Latin America and elsewhere. But they are struggling to afford the expensive latest varieties as they tighten their belts. Hardier seed breeds and rising yields have for years boosted US farm productivity. But they have also contributed to the massive oversupply in global grains markets. Saving money on capital purchases is one thing. But cuts to farm inputs from reducing how many seeds are planted to cutting back on fertilizer use will eventually hurt productivity, say farmers. You find yourself in a Catch-22, said Jeff Fisher, who grows corn and soybeans on 1,600 acres in Illinois. You just hope the yield wont be hit too bad next year. David Miller, who grows corn and soybeans on 500 acres in southern Iowa, saved about $8 per acre for beans and some $20 per acre for corn by using cheaper seeds. The risk is that they will produce a smaller harvest. Adding to that concern: After a dry summer, he expects his poorest soybean field to yield around 20 bushels per acre, 65pc off the state average. Even with the cuts, US farmers are still spending more per acre than their competitors in Latin America. In Argentina, corn was expected to cost just under $200 per acre in the 2017/2018 season, according to Ezequiel de Freijo, analyst at farm association Sociedad Rurals Institute of Economic Studies, well below the around $310 per acre in the US in 2016. Soy farmers in the Latin American country are spending around $115 an acre, compared to around $163 in the United States during 2016 The lower costs have helped Latin American producers take market share from their competitors in the United States. Brazil and Argentina combined are expected to capture nearly 42pc of the global corn export market in the 2017/2018 crop year, up from under 38pc in 2014/2015. During the same period, the United States saw its share of global corn exports drop to around 31pc of the market from 33.5pc. Latin American farmers, like their counterparts in the north, are also searching for ways to cut costs to boost their margins and take more of the global market from competitors. We are cutting use of fertilisers, for example, said Jose Fernandes, who farms 400 hectares, or nearly 1,000 acres, of soy in Brazils key Mato Grosso production region. We have been burning fat for a long time here on costs. The current Dixons stores at Dublin Airport rang up 11m in sales last year. Dublin Airport operator DAA has put its lucrative electronics store concessions out for renewal. The concessions at the airport are currently held by Dixons Travel. The DAA said that the Dixons outlet in Terminal 1 generated sales of almost 6.1m last year, while the Terminal 2 outlet had sales of nearly 5.2m. The successful tenderer is expected to secure a five-year concession for the two outlets. Terminal 1 handled about 16.7 million passengers last year, while Terminal 2 handled 11.2 million. An average of 76,458 passengers use Dublin Airport every day, with the number rising to more than 93,000 during the peak summer season. Dublin Airport is expected to handle about 30 million passengers this year. The existing electronics store in Terminal 1 extends over 195 sq m, while the Terminal 2 outlet will cover about 80 sq m. Last year, the Terminal 2 electronics store outlet extended over more than 200 sq m. Earlier this month, the DAA indicated that it was preparing to embark on a major overhaul of its airside retail operations at Terminal 2, which are operated by its Aer Rianta International subsidiary. It will include the development of a new 14,500 sq ft duty-free outlet, a large liquor store as well as other new units for the sale of items such as perfume, luggage and jewellery. The tender relates to work in the main retail areas of the departures lounge, a mix of space managed directly by the DAA and concession stores. T2 opened in 2010 at a cost of 600m, and can handle 15 million passengers a year. Its retail units are among the busiest in the State. Aer Rianta International also operates retail businesses at airports all over the world. In the Middle East, its joint venture will soon take charge of additional new retail space at Muscat Airport in Oman, when a new terminal opens. That will see the amount of retail space operated by the firm there triple. The Middle East joint venture will also operate 1,000 sq m of retail space at the King Khaled airport in Saudi Arabia which opens in January. It also has operations in Bahrain, Lebanon and Cyprus. Aer Rianta International also manages airport retail operations in countries including New Zealand, India and Canada. Right through the crash and the bailout foreign direct investment (FDI), the bulk of it from the US, flowed into Ireland, a largely hidden stimulus package that ensured this country was never in danger of becoming another Greece. But the environment is changing, especially internationally. As president of the American Ireland Chamber of Commerce, James O'Connor represents most of those big employers. His day jobs is as managing director of Microsoft's EMEA Operations Centre in Dublin, which happens to be the country's biggest exporter. There might be little anyone here can do about US President Donald Trump, or Brexit, or even the European Commission's increasingly unwelcoming attitude to US investment, but O'Connor reckons some of the factors within Ireland's control need to be tackled just as urgently. "The reputation of Ireland right now is very, very strong, but competitiveness factors whether its accommodation and residential availability, the risk of increasing wages because of rent increases etc, they're not going to help us - no question. Right now its not a factor but its starting to come up more, particularly on the residential side." If staff recruited at home or abroad can't find places to live, it's inevitably going to hurt investment, he says. "We (Ireland) own that, we control that locally and we have to work really hard collectively so that it doesn't become a reputational issue." And it's not just housing. O'Connor - a 20-year Microsoft veteran - admits he took the Chamber job at an unusual time. He's keen to emphasis that things are good right now, fluently rattling off the impressive statistics in terms of the scale of jobs, investment and businesses supported by US firms here. But has Ireland reclaimed its status as the poster child for globalisation, in an era where globalisation is fast falling out of favour, not least in the White House? "There's clearly more uncertainty on the global stage, obviously with the new administration in the US, with Brexit, with obviously the continuing changes that are happening within the EU (on tax)," O'Connor agrees. "We really have to focus on Ireland, and this is a collective partnership with Government, with the education sector and with indigenous businesses as well - we have to focus on what we can control." "We need to be ambitious. We need to be aspirational, in terms of where we can take the amazing assets that we already have here in Ireland and the amazing talent that we already have here. At the same time, we can't be complacent." It's not only housing where current provision is in danger of coming up short, he reckons, citing schools and emerging gaps in physical and digital infrastructure as well as high personal taxes. Most of us have become used to executives in multinationals singing the praises of Ireland's young, educated workforce. O'Connor's views are a lot less sanguine. Ireland isn't ready for the scale of industrial change under way, he reckons. "We have to shift the education model to the fact it's no longer about primary, secondary and university or third level. It is also about apprenticeships and how do we continue to reskill people who are working for the future? "We're behind when we look at some of our competitors in the EU in terms of continuous learning," he says. It's not all bad news. On the so-called science, technology, engineering and maths (Stem) agenda, he's "excited" - you can tell he spends a lot of time in the US - by the Government's stated ambition to have the best education and skills capability by 2026, but would like to see those policies accelerated. A major shift in policy will determine the future educational provision of tomorrow's kids on today's best guess - isn't there a danger it goes horribly wrong, leaving a future generation to bear the cost? O'Connor thinks the greater danger is people getting left behind. "Having the right level of technical and engineering skills across the workforce, regardless of what sector you work in, is going to be really, really critical for us in future," he says. Too many people in Ireland, including policymakers and individuals have a fixed view of education as a stage in life, rather than a part of life, he reckons. "Coming out of college or university and saying, I've done my education now I'm going into this career - those days are gone." "A lot of change is being driven by digital. The term that came out of Davos (the World Economic Forum conference) last year - we're in the midst of the fourth industrial revolution, the digital revolution - and this is not a tech sector thing, everything is affected." People already heavily rely on digital in everyday life and that's accelerating at huge pace, he points out. Artificial intelligence, augmented reality and quantum computing are transforming work, he says. "There is an opportunity collectively in Ireland to stand back and ask what are our core assets, our core strengths - and there are many - and then, how do we think about the type of jobs, the type of capabilities we're going to need in the future and how do we start working towards that?" Ireland has historically been weak on long-term planning - whether its physical infrastructure or social policy - but O'Connor thinks things are getting better. "I think something like the Stem agenda and the recommendations from that is clearly a component of that, no question." "But we have some more work to do, collectively, to really iron out and get a clear view on what that vision can be." If education is a long-term issue, Brexit is something that is already confronting US firms operating from Ireland. "There are four areas of focus, in terms of our members, when we think about Brexit," he says. That includes freedom of movement for staff, the danger of trade barriers being thrown up for physical or digital trade as well as any scenario where there's a different regulatory regime in UK post-Brexit. Interestingly, the fourth priority is essentially diplomatic - pushing Ireland to nurture ties with other pro-business EU member states. "We're certainly urging Government to build new alliances within the EU, because there's a lot of like mindedness between the UK and Ireland and the fact is they'll no longer be in the EU. We've had ongoing discussion and engagement on that as well." Perhaps understandably, as an Irish executive in a major US firm, O'Connor is more circumspect on the other great issue of the day. The erratic, often anti-trade presidency of Trump, who continues to grumble about US companies that have large operations abroad, including in Ireland, and who makes frequent calls for jobs to "come home" to America. "Its super early still, we have to see where that goes. There is a wide recognition that there is a tax reform required in the US, no one is going to deny that, and tax reform should benefit Irish companies in the US too. "We just have to wait and see where that goes. Honestly, its not a big factor for our members - we just have to continue to innovate and add value and stay competitive," he tells me. At the 15th Institutional Investor Roundtable global summit in Dublins Shelbourne Hotel were Conor OKelly, CEO of the National Treasury Management Agency, and Paschal Donohoe, Minister for Finance. Photo: Fennell Photography The National Asset Management Agency (Nama) has reported 1.5bn of income generation during the first half of the year, down from last year's rate as the agency's stock of loans declines. Earlier this month Nama announced that it would redeem the final outstanding 500m of its original 32bn of senior debt on October 25. That debt was settled yesterday. Nama's remaining debt is 1.6bn of so-called subordinated bonds, which were never guaranteed by taxpayers and which don't have to be repaid until 2020. The half-year results yesterday show Nama has assets valued at around 3.7bn left to sell. Redemption of senior debt and the 2020 deadline to repay junior loans gives the agency greater flexibility to use its cash, including to fund house building. Nama generates cash from asset sales and from interest and rents. Nama is a stand-alone agency, staffed by the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA). Yesterday, NTMA CEO Conor O'Kelly hosted the 15th Institutional Investor Roundtable global summit in Dublin on behalf of the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund. The event brought together 40 of the world's top investors, including sovereign wealth fund and major pension funds that manage around 12 trillion in assets. The Cork-based O'Flynn Group was yesterday celebrating a double planning victory after securing the go-ahead for two housing developments in Dublin comprising of 308 units. Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Co Council has granted planning permission for the 90m 226-unit development at Cabinteely, but only after the O'Flynn Group successfully went to the High Court challenging the original refusal for the development in 2015. The group has also secured planning permission for a 32m 82-home development on a six-acre site on Chapel Rd at Kinsealy in north Dublin. Asked to comment on the planning grants, group managing director Michael O'Flynn, pictured, expressed his delight with the two decisions, but said the planning process needs to be more efficient. "Planning delays only result in the cost of houses going up. Prices are still too high in the current market," he said. "These decisions are not just good for us but good for the house buyer as well." The Cabinteely decision is still subject to a planning appeal but Mr O'Flynn said that his firm expects to commence construction on the Kinsealy development in January following the An Bord Pleanala decision with the first units to go on sale next September. Mr O'Flynn said the group hope to develop more sites in this area. UK transport and energy group Stobart is understood to be considering hiving off its Dublin-based Stobart Aviation unit as a separate entity - just months after bringing it into the group fold. Stock-market-listed Stobart indicated last week that it was assessing possible new structures for its aviation arm that would allow the unit to secure investment in order to pursue consolidation opportunities. Stobart Air operates the Aer Lingus Regional service on a franchise basis, and also has a franchise agreement with UK regional carrier Flybe to operate routes including a new service between Dublin and London Southend Airport that starts next weekend. Warwick Brady, Stobart Group CEO, told the Irish Independent last week that Stobart did not want to "miss out" on consolidation opportunities if they arose, but declined to say what the new structure might be. Stobart Group owned 45pc of Stobart Air before it wholly acquired it. Invesco Perpetual owned 40pc and broker Cenkos held 10pc. Former Aer Arann chairman Padraig O Ceidigh owned 5pc. Invesco owns 27pc of Stobart Group. The previous Stobart Air shareholders were bought out by Stobart Group as it took full ownership of the business last year. Stobart Group - which has a 940m (1bn) market capitalisation - also took full control this year of Propius, an aircraft-leasing unit that housed aircraft operated by Stobart Air. Aer Lingus was a shareholder in Propius. In April, Stobart completed a sale and leaseback of the Propius ATR turboprop aircraft with German firm GOAL. Separating out Stobart Air could pique the interest of investors such as fund manager Neil Woodford. He owns a near 20pc stake in Eddie Stobart, the logistics business that was spun out of Stobart Group and listed on the stock market this year. Woodford Investment Management also owns about 20pc of Stobart Group. Stobart Group might also be keen to complete a separation of the aviation business before the end of December. Doing so would mean that a big chunk of the losses that would be incurred by Stobart Air over the lean winter months - many airlines typically lose money in winter - would not hit the Stobart Group balance sheet for its current financial year, which ends in February. Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has been forced to call in bank chiefs and demand they examine their treatment of those affected by the mortgage scandal. Photo: True Media Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe gave bank chief executives a right good talking to. They will pony up compensation by Christmas and everything will be OK. Oh no. It isn't that simple. There is still no final agreement on exactly who have been victims of the tracker mortgage scandal and whether the compensation likely to be paid will be enough. Who will adjudicate on the answers to both of those questions? This sorry saga is far from over. If anything, the whole debacle has shown how little has really changed in the financial services industry when it comes to bankers and regulators. On a superficial level there has been lots of change. The Central Bank is bigger and more intrusive in ensuring none of the banks go bust or the system doesn't collapse. It has a lot more staff and a spanking new building along the quays in Dublin. The banks are more carefully watched when it comes to lending practices and risks to the system. There is a lot more bureaucracy and regulatory material to be provided. However, despite a systemic banking collapse that required 62bn of taxpayers' money to fix, there is a sadly familiar tone to the tracker scandal. This was evident from the performances of senior Central Bankers at the Oireachtas committee last week. They talked about holding "legal powers in reserve" and providing the banks with the opportunity to "do the right thing". The tracker mortgage situation is complex and vast in scale. Not all banks had the same contracts or ripped off their customers in quite the same ways. But the outcome was consistent, predictable and cynical - contracts were interpreted in favour of the bank rather than the customer. Either the banks were not allowed to do that - in which case there needs to be enforcement - or they were, in which case the banks are laughing at all of us. To best understand the depressing vista before us in all of this, it is worth going back to the report written by then governor of the Central Bank, Patrick Honohan, in 2010. He wrote his report for the Government to try and understand where the Central Bank and financial regulator had gone so badly wrong in the build-up to the financial crisis. On the question of its approach to enforcement, his insights are rather interesting when considered with last week's evidence to the committee. He is talking about 2003-2008. He said the approach to enforcement taken by the financial regulator "saw enforcement largely as a problem-solving exercise between the FR and the bank or building society". "An action plan would be drawn up to address the breaches of the principles, codes, regulations and/or rules." When it came to the regulator taking banks to court, he said "it was felt there was a danger that court cases might be lost, while attaching conditions to licences and similar measures might attract unseemly adverse publicity and discourage promotion of the Irish financial sector". It goes on: "Underlying this model of enforcement was the view that those running the banks and building societies were honourable persons striving to do their best to comply with the principles as well as the various rules, codes and regulations." Mr Honohan characterised this approach as 'walk softly and carry no stick' and instead he advocated a different approach of 'walk softly but carry a big stick'. On the question of the stick, Mr Honohan said that "if the perceived probability of sanctions - especially escalating sanctions - is considered low, regulated credit institutions may not pay a great deal of attention to ensuring compliance". He cited one example of how the leading banks were investigated by the European Commission over concerns that a cartel existed in relation to cash exchange for eurozone currencies. "Proceedings were ended against Ulster Bank after it changed its tariffs for exchanging eurozone currencies in May 2001. Under Irish competition law, such behaviour constitutes a criminal offence," Mr Honohan noted. The Central Bank will argue in its defence this time round that its powers to enforce compensation on banks only applies in cases after 2013 and the tracker mortgage cases pre-date that. Central Bank governor Philip Lane kept emphasising last week how he is pushing out the boundaries or limits of the powers he has in relation to this. The banks clearly believe they are on firm legal ground to withstand a court challenge. Yet, some of them are paying up compensation. Either they broke the rules and breached people's contracts or they didn't. Where they didn't, they have imposed a financial hardship on people in a most immoral and appalling way. So what does this saga say about how the banks have changed? First of all, it isn't the "banks", as anonymous entities. It is about the people who run the banks. The banks are run by senior management and their boards. How have they changed after the 62bn national crisis their predecessors created? The deputy governor of the Central Bank said last week that the culture of banking in Ireland is still too focused on whether something is legal or not, rather than focusing on whether it is in the best long-term interests of the customer and the bank. I remember reading the recommendations of the banking inquiry, which laid down strict new rules about the qualifications of those in senior positions in banking. It seemed reasonable, except it wasn't a lack of qualifications that caused the banking crisis. The problem lay with the culture of banking itself. The banks didn't collapse because the people at the helm were underqualified and lacked a piece of paper. It was because they were reckless, greedy, short-termist and arrogant. It could be said they are less reckless now. In the more intrusive regulatory regime they are not allowed to be as reckless. In fact, the only positive changes are in areas where bankers are not allowed to make the same mistakes. In the areas where they are left to their own discretion and judgement, it seems that very little has changed. This is primarily in the area of how they treat customers. Once again, customers have been let down both by the banks and the regulatory apparatus around them. So how do you change a banking culture? Isn't the culture similar all over the world, from London to Wall Street? There is the naive way and the big stick way. The naive way involves slowly bringing about a cultural change in how a bank sets its priorities and commitments to its customers against its goals and need for profit growth. It is the "naive way" because it actually doesn't work. So we are only left with the "big stick" approach. This is where you go after negligence, complacency, error, failure or deliberate wrongdoing and you come down really hard on it. Perhaps the only way of achieving this kind of regulatory approach is to start afresh and separate consumer protection powers from the Central Bank into a new entity. Given the expansion of the Central Bank since the crash, it might be very difficult and expensive to achieve this separation now. The Central Bank has not covered itself in glory on this one. Even its governor last week talked about bank "failures" rather than bank behaviour. One implies a mistake, the other implies possibly something deliberate. It is appalling that in 2017, after everything that has happened with the banking crash, a finance minister has to call in bank chief executives and demand what are reasonable and fair outcomes. The real scale of this scandal is not yet known. There is little evidence that banks are including people who lost trackers, fell into arrears and went on to sell their homes, as opposed to waiting to have the house repossessed. Where banks cannot be trusted to do the right thing, they must be forced to do it. Dublin 15, which includes the areas of Castleknock, Blanchardstown, and Clonsilla, recorded the largest number of residential property sales in the capital in the first six months of 2017. In total 751 sales of residential property took place in the district in six months to 30 June. The district was followed by Dublin 18, which recorded 387 residential property sale, with Dublin 8 coming is as the third most popular district in the capital, recording 366 sales over the six month period. Overall, there were 7,461 sales in Dublin the first half of 2017, an increase of 11pc on the 6,714 recorded for the same period last year, according to research from MyHome.ie. The study found that the number of transactions rose in all but four of Dublins twenty-two postal code districts during the six month period. Angela Keegan, managing director of MyHome.ie said that while the increase in the number of sales was positive the continuing sprawl of the city up to and beyond the M50 was a concern. "One of the key issues for people buying properties on the outskirts of the city is the commute to work. While first time buyers are increasingly desperate to buy their own homes, commuting times are increasing at an alarming rate as the city spreads beyond the M50 and this will be a huge issue for Dubliners in the years ahead. But clearly it should be a major concern for our planners right now" Ms Keegan warned. Close to 300 houses in Dublin sold for 1m or more during the period, while the highest price paid for a house in Dublin in the first six months of the year was the 8.45m spent on 11 Shrewsbury Road in Dublin 4. In April of this year, Instagram announced that it had 700 million monthly users. By September, that had increased to 800 million, with a staggering 500 million using the service every day. Much of that is down to Mike Krieger. With Kevin Systrom, he co-founded the service seven years ago. Although they sold it to Facebook in 2012 for $1bn, they stayed on running the company. Krieger's strategy has been simple: keep it visual and keep it positive. It seems to have worked. Bigger than Snapchat and Twitter combined, Instagram is a world relatively unscathed by the rancour, trolls and toxic politics that other social networks are criticised for. Its business brain is evolving, too. This year it doubled the number of advertisers on the platform to two million. It is now a routine part of the growth plans of thousands of Irish companies, particularly in the retail, food and hospitality sectors. Adrian Weckler sat down with Krieger at Instagram's headquarters in Menlo Park, California. Adrian Weckler [AW]: When you launched Stories, there was a lot of commentary about how it was really similar to Snapchat. What's your response to that? Mike Krieger [MK]: We were really transparent about it because I think it would have been really disingenuous to say we came up with this product ourselves. They [Snapchat] definitely came up with this format first. Flipogram had a similar format as well. Kudos to them, they came up with a great format. But I don't think that's a reason not to have our community able to share in that way. I also think had we just glued something on that didn't fit with our product, we'd probably be taking it out six months later because it wouldn't have worked. Instead it's really thrived. I think because it has actually fits a need that people have. We have a semi-annual all-hands [meeting] where Kevin and I talk about Instagram the company. During the last one, we talked about innovation and the myth of the lone inventor in the garage with the light-bulb. This is so problematic when you actually look at the history of how things get built. It's often about like taking ideas and recombining them and adding your own perspective or spin on it, bringing it to a new audience and helping them succeed in that way. So we encourage our engineers not to try to come up with the one idea that's never been done before, but instead think about a real-world metaphor for what they're building. It's a little bit like that idea of standing on the shoulders of giants but it's more like ladder climbing with everybody kind of innovating collaboratively. Whatever its origin, Stories has been a runaway success for you. Does that surprise you? MK: It wasn't a total surprise as we saw that behaviour being hacked into the product beforehand. People were creating a bunch of second accounts, which we called Finstagrams, or fake Instagrams. They were using those secondary accounts to post effectively what they would have posted had we had a Stories product. We would see Finstagrams of over 20 posts a day whereas on their main feed posts, people would only post one Instagram a day because they thought it had to be a good one. So we learned was there was this real latent desire to share more frequently. We just were not serving that from the product so people were going out and using Snapchat instead. They were even posting things on their Instagram like 'hey, I'd share more from this event that I'm at but I can't because I don't want to double insta, and here's where you can get it'. We weren't trying to invent a behaviour nobody wanted. It was more like it was a floodgate of people who were just waiting for a product that would let them do that. Despite its enormous scale, Instagram has largely managed to remain removed from being identified as a place where news issues are played out, sometimes acrimoniously. Has that been a conscious strategy? MK: The way I think about it is it can still be - and it still is - part of those discussions. There's been a lot of political upheaval this year, but there's a role for Instagram to be both a place where you can follow your interests and get away from all of that a little bit. But when you do choose to participate, it is in that first-person way. There was a Women's March held here early in the year. And it was really interesting to see what the different platforms had as their content. On Facebook there were articles being written about it but on Instagram, it was all people participating, being there, sharing stories. So, by nature that ended up being less about back and forth or really reacting to something people wrote and more like 'here's my role in this democratic process'. You talk about 'kindness' in relation to Instagram. Why don't you have the same troll problem as Twitter or Facebook? MK: We tried to encourage positivity from the beginning and I think the platform did that. Obviously as you grow to 100 million and then out to 800 million people, not everybody is nice. That's fine, because that's the world. But from the top, Kevin and I have worked both on the technology side and on the community side so that we keep as much positivity going as long as we can. And that's everything from doing machine learning and natural language processing that hides offensive comments to actually putting out positive messages through the community. It's been interesting, though. We had to make a philosophical judgement along the lines of 'who owns the comment section underneath your photos and videos'? On one hand, it's free speech because they're public spaces. But Kevin and I both had this perspective that when you put yourself out there, you put something out in the world and that comment thread is kind of yours. It's people coming into your space, so your house, your rules. What about more video or high definition video? We're told endlessly that video is taking over. Will we see more video options or high definition video on Instagram soon? MK: It's a good question. Our toe-dip into longer video is the fact that you can now keep your Stories around for 24 hours. It's actually the first time that videos of longer than a minute have been on Instagram, period. We're learning from that to see what kind of things people do. What we have right now is a minute. If we introduce longer video, we have to make it fit into the flow of Instagram in a way that makes sense. I think what might point the way is the people who use video today on Instagram. I meet these digital creators who are producing video for Instagram and they'll often do a short cut for their Instagram feed or for Stories and point to a longer video. Often that lives on other platforms because you just can't post them on Instagram. But the idea of a teaser plus the full piece of content, if you were interested in it, might be a future piece. Instagram is arguably the biggest platform for celebrity social media influencers, some of whom are getting heat for not declaring commercial interests. What's your perspective? MK: I think the enforcement comes from agencies. I'm not familiar with the situation in Europe as much but in the US, the FTC [Federal Trade Commission] is really starting to talk to these influencers and say 'hey, you need to be very transparent'. We intend to help them be transparent in the way they need to be. We piloted branded content tools over the summer and we're now rolling them out. But the nice thing about Instagram is its self-selectedness. If somebody goes too overboard and is too commercial, people will just unfollow. I think that becomes a self-regulating thing. It'll be interesting for other marketers who will notice that certain over-the-top accounts didn't get as much reach or likes or engagement. The chief executive of Australian flag carrier Qantas has topped a list of the top 100 LGBT executives - as the country is balloted for its views on legalising same-sex marriage. Irish-born Australian Alan Joyce joined the airline in 2000 and has been described as a "passionate advocate for LGBT+ rights" in the LGBT Executives list compiled by the Financial Times and networking group OUTstanding. Also featuring in the list was Stacey Friedman, general counsel at JP Morgan Chase, and Jim Fitterling, the chief operating officer for Material Sciences at chemical company DowDuPont. Mr Joyce, 51, has been a vocal supporter of the campaign to legalise same-sex marriage in Australia - with a result on the ballot expected on November 15. Read more: Interview: 'We saw the writing on the wall with the low-cost carriers, so we created our own one' - Qantas CEO He was on the receiving end of a pie protest in May by a 67-year-old who said Qantas and other companies that support marriage equality were guilty of "corporate bullying aimed at social engineering". In response, Mr Joyce said: "Qantas has always spoken up on gender issues, on LGBTI issues, on Indigenous issues and we will continue to do so and no attempt at bullying us into suppressing our voice will work." Speaking about the referendum, he told the BBC: "As an openly gay man and being the leader of this organisation and a high-profile business leader in Australia, I felt it was very important that I led by example and was out there promoting the case." His citation on the OUTstanding list added: "He has... taken a very public stance in campaigning in favour of marriage equality as a fundamental human rights issue. "This has attracted a range of reactions and sparked a broader debate about the role of business when it comes to social issues. "His involvement has also resulted in a great deal of international media coverage, providing an even bigger platform to the fight for diversity and equality." Fats Domino, the amiable rock 'n' roll pioneer whose steady, pounding piano and easy baritone helped change popular music, has died. He was 89. Mark Bone, chief investigator with the Jefferson Parish Coroner's Office in Louisiana, said Domino died of natural causes on Tuesday. In appearance, he was no matinee idol. He stood 5ft 5in and weighed more than 14 stone, 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' and other standards of rock 'n' roll. He was one of the first 10 honorees named in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The 'Rolling Stone Record Guide' likened him to one of the founding fathers of the United States, Benjamin Franklin, and said he was 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." Expand Close Fats Domino (centre) with Jerry Lee Lewis and James Brown at their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986. Photo: G. Paul Burnett/AP Photo / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Fats Domino (centre) with Jerry Lee Lewis and James Brown at their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986. Photo: G. Paul Burnett/AP Photo New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu said: "On behalf of the people of New Orleans, I am eternally grateful for his life and legacy. "Fats Domino added to New Orleans' standing in the world, and what people know and appreciate about New Orleans." Quint Davis, producer of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and a friend of Domino, added: "I can't wrap my arms around him being gone. There are only two people from New Orleans that have changed the music of the world, and that's Louis Armstrong and Fats Domino. Louis brought jazz in his own personal way from New Orleans to a world that really didn't know it, and Fats was right there with Elvis and the birth of rock 'n' roll and brought that to the world." 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. Expand Close Fats Domino performs at the 30th Annual New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival April 25, 1999. Photo: Lee Celano/Reuters / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Fats Domino performs at the 30th Annual New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival April 25, 1999. Photo: Lee Celano/Reuters His 1956 version of 'Blueberry Hill' was selected for the US 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. Video of the Day 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 as Domino played 'I'm Walkin', 'Ain't It a Shame', '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 deter-mination 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 on February 26, 1928. One of nine children, he taught himself popular piano styles - ragtime, blues and boogie-woogie. He quit school at 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 Records. 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'. Domino enjoyed a parade of successes through the early 1960s, including 'Be My Guest' and 'I'm Ready'. 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 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, he dodged the spotlight in his later years, refusing to appear in public or even to give interviews. Caitriona Perry reacts as US President Donald Trump speaks to her in the Oval Office Caitriona Perry has told how she will be very sad to leave her job as Washington Correspondent for RTE to front the Six One news in January. The Dubliner will be joined by fellow RTE star Keelin Shanley on the revamped news programme in January when Sharon Ni Bheolain will move to the Nine O'Clock News and Crimecall. "I have to go back and pack up my whole live and say good bye to my lovely friends. "This is not a job I ever went looking for. I think everyone knows how much I absolutely adored America and I loved the job," she told Independent.ie. Expand Close Caitriona Perry reacts as US President Donald Trump speaks to her in the Oval Office / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Caitriona Perry reacts as US President Donald Trump speaks to her in the Oval Office "While I'm very excited about the new role, there is a bit of a wrench involved to say goodbye to US politics. "It's such a huge job, it's the thing everyone grew up watching with your tea or your dinner. It's part of the Irish psyche. So when I was offered this totally out of the blue, it was very difficult to say no to." Expand Close Keelin Shanley and Caitriona Perry / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Keelin Shanley and Caitriona Perry Perry said she will remain at her post in Washington for the rest of the year and doesn't think she will return to Ireland permanently until New Year's Day. "I'm a staff member of RTE so the way things work, when you get to the end of your term, you have to come home if you want to be employed," she said. Shanley added the pair were looking forward to putting their own stamp on the programme. "It's very much a team effort. We are very much looking forward to working together and bringing our reporting to it as well. There's lots of possibilities," she said. 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 resolved. Ms Lavin of Osberstown House, Naas, Co Kildare has 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. On Thursday morning the court was informed by Bernard Dunleavy SC for the company that the case had been resolved and on consent could be struck out. The Judge agreed to strike out the case, which was expected to run for several days had talks between the parties failed to bring about an agreement. No details of the settlement, which is understood to be confidential, were given in open court. In her proceedings Ms Lavin, who says she is in a committed relationship with Mr Cullen, claimed Killegy House was 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 claimed, 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 claimed it failed to complete the sale of the property to her. She claimed 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. In her action she sought an order for the specific performance directing the sale of Killegy House to her. She also sought an order prohibiting the defendants from entering into any contract for sale of the property other than with Ms Lavin. Glencullen Properties denied all the claims and argued that Ms Lavin was not entitled to any of the orders she sought. 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 denied the monies were advanced as part of an agreement to sell Killegy use to Ms Lavin or that it agreed to sell her the premises. On Wednesday a lawyer for Mr Cullen told the court that Mr Cullen was not defending the proceedings and that he was supporting Ms Lavin. 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. 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 personal assistant who stole more than 1 million from her employers over a 14 year period has been jailed for four years. Siobhan Maguire (47) stole the money by fraudulently lodging her employers cheques to her personal bank account. Her lawyers told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that she dissipated the money over the years paying her mortgage, going on holidays and supporting her children. Maguire, of The Brambles, Skerries, Dublin pleaded guilty to 32 sample theft and fraud charges related to lodgment of 660 cheques to her bank account on dates between 2001 and 2015. She had been sent forward to the Circuit Criminal Court for sentencing on the offences after entering signed guilty pleas in the District Court. Maguire has no previous convictions. The total theft involved amounted to 1,187,616. Maguire's former employers have been partially reimbursed by banks and did not wish to make victim impact statements. The total outstanding loss is now approximately 325,000. Judge Patricia Ryan noted testimonials and letters handed in from family and friends. She said she was taking into account the letters from Maguire's children who were of a young age and not financially independent. She said the aggravating circumstances of the case included the serious nature of the charge, the amount of money involved, the long period over which the offences were committed and the breech of trust. She noted the prosecuting garda was of the view Maguire would not re-offend. Judge Ryan noted in mitigation that Maguire had entered an early guilty plea which was of value to the State, that she had made full admissions, had no previous convictions and had displayed remorse which the prosecution accepted was genuine. Judge Ryan imposed four years imprisonment on each count to run concurrently. Garda Stephen Faulkner told Maurice Coffey BL, prosecuting, that Maguire worked as a shared secretary and personal assistant to two professional people at offices in Church Street, Dublin and began employment there in May 2001. He said part of her role, over the 14 years of her employment, was to lodge cheques into the business accounts of the two men. He said that during this time she also lodged 660 of these cheques, which she had falsely endorsed on the back, to her own personal account. Gda Faulkner said the amounts on the fraudulently lodged cheques ranged from upper limits of 5,000 to a lower limit of several hundred euro. The money had been subsequently taken from her account in cash withdrawals and gardai were unable to trace it. He said that the fraud came to light in January 2015 after a bank employee became suspicious of a number of cheques Maguire lodged to her own account through the self service machines at Bank of Ireland in Smithfield. Maguire's bank account was investigated and a vast amount of cheque lodgements uncovered. She was suspended from her job and subsequently resigned. A garda investigation began and she made full admissions to all the offences. Gda Faulkner agreed with Conor Devally SC, defending, that Maguire had co-operated fully with the investigation and expressed genuine remorse. He agreed that the injured parties did not wish for Maguire to sell her family home to make up the shortfall in what they had lost. Mr Devally said Maguire, who was separated from the father of her children, had at the time been paying the mortgage on their jointly owned home by herself and supporting her two children. He said instead of confronting her former partner about his obligations she took this stop gap measure and it became part of her life. He said Maguire had convinced herself at that time that it was something she could make up for. Mr Devally said that discovery of the offences had come as a horrible shock but there was also relief that her double life had been brought to an end. He said she was dogged by mortification and shame at the offences. He handed in a number of testimonials and letters from Maguire's family. After hearing evidence last week Judge Ryan had adjourned the case to allow further details of Maguire's financial details be brought before the court. Oisin Clarke BL, defending, told Judge Ryan today that the family home had gone into arrears after Maguire was let go from her job but that her ex-partner is now paying for the house. He said that Maguire was currently on social welfare. Gangland tensions in a north Dublin suburb are threatening to spiral out of control after a series of violent incidents in a bitter local feud that has links to the Kinahan cartel. Today's Herald reports on how a feud between a cartel-linked thug known as Mr Flashy and older gangsters in the area is at breaking point after a series of violent incidents, garda busts and terrifying death threats. In a series of tit-for-tat incidents, the latest drama unfolded on Tuesday night, when a 30-year-old who is suspected of being enlisted by Mr Flashy's crew was busted with two handguns, ammunition and a smoke grenade after being chased by uniformed gardai in Casement Drive, Finglas. A set of keys for a stolen car, which had false number plates, was also recovered nearby when gardai from the local drugs unit pounced on the suspect shortly after 10.35pm on Tuesday. Gardai are investigating if the man, who lives in the Cabra area of the northside, was on his way to carry out a revenge murder for the Mr Flashy faction after days of simmering tension in the suburb. The 30-year-old remained in custody last night at Finglas Garda Station as officers battle to prevent a bloodbath in the beleaguered suburb. While this individual was not previously closely aligned to either of the factions involved in the feud, all the indications are that he has been hired out by the young Kinahan-aligned drug dealer who has been causing mayhem in the locality for the past year, a senior source said last night. The fact that he was caught with a smoke bomb in a rucksack, which he discarded, is also an unusual and worrying development. The arrest of the suspect happened just over seven hours after Finglas Garda Station had to be evacuated when an innocent member of the public walked into the station with a crudely made but viable pipe bomb. Gardai are investigating reports that Mr Flashys gang was involved in throwing the device at a bitter rivals in a small housing estate located close to the garda station earlier in the day, before it was retrieved by a member of the public who then took the bomb into the station. Members of the Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit were called to the scene, before eventually removing the device at about 5pm. The expectation is that there are going to be multiple murders in Finglas because of this dispute. There are some heavy hitters involved and tensions are completely off the charts, a source said last night. People are of the view that this dispute could get every bit as nasty and dangerous as the Crumlin/Drimnagh feud, which ended up claiming over 15 lives. Armed garda patrols have increased in the area ever since Hutch gang-linked criminal Glen OToole (39) was arrested in the Ashtown area while on his way to murder the flashy drug dealer three weeks ago. OToole was arrested with a loaded firearm, a silencer, a canister of petrol and a Halloween mask by Finglas gardai. He was charged in relation to the arrest but died by suicide in prison last week, and it is understood he had been threatened by the Kinahan cartel- linked drugs mob before he took his own life. Just days after OTooles arrest, Mr Flashys gang was suspected of shooting up the family home of an innocent member of the Hutch family in a revenge attack. Mr Flashys mob is also suspected of beating up another innocent Hutch family member in a daylight attack in a supermarket car park last week. In the aftermath of this incident, a teenage Hutch family member fled the Finglas area and went into hiding because of threats against him. Days later, the situation further escalated when a violent brawl broke out in a Finglas pub. A group of older criminals, who had been pals with OToole including gangland hardman David SOS Mulvey, as well as his right-hand man and close associates of previous gangland murder victims David Thomas and Daniel Gaynor confronted Mr Flashy and some of his associates and chased them out of the pub. This was a violent incident and the older criminals left it in no doubt that they were not in any way afraid of the younger crew, who were effectively forced to run away from them, a source said. This has led to major fears associates of Mulvey will now be dragged into a bitter gang war with the rival younger outfit. Local sources say that Mr Flashys mob are now threatening to murder up to five of their rivals and there are major fears that the Kinahan-backed mobsters could use Halloween night next week to carry out their revenge. However, the introduction of Mulvey (35) and his associates into the feud has caused major concern for gardai. Mulvey, of Berryfield Drive, Finglas, previously served 10 years in consecutive jail sentences for the attempted armed robbery of a post office and possession of a loaded double-barrelled sawn-off shotgun. Another associate of the older criminals who could get sucked into the gang war is criminal Alan Fatpuss Bradley (43), who recently returned to Portloaise Prison to serve the remaining few weeks of a sentence he received for conspiracy to commit a huge robbery. Bradley has been a long-term target for Mr Flashy, leading to a major garda alert in April, when officers received information that a 21-year-old criminal from the Blanchardstown area was driving around in a high-powered Audi car and was intending to shoot either Bradley or his younger brother Wayne on the orders of the rival gang. As tensions remain extremely high, the Herald can reveal that Mr Flashy and his mob threatened to ram the funeral of gangland hitman OToole on Saturday. Local sources say that the criminal grouping had three stolen cars offside but did not continue with their plot because of the armed garda presence at the funeral. The main players in the growing rivalry Mr Flashy The 25-year-old flashy drug dealer who has had personal dealings with cartel kingpin Daniel Kinahan has been at the centre of organised crime in Finglas for well over a year. Despite heightened garda activity against him in recent months, he has managed to evade serious charges. The thug likes to flaunt his wealth and is often seen wearing trainers worth more than 300 and expensive designer clothes. He has regularly been seen in a popular south-inner city nightclub. It is understood he suffered facial injuries in last weeks pub brawl against older criminals. His mob came out worse. David SOS Mulvey Mulvey (35) is a veteran of the capitals gangland scene and had been keeping a relatively low profile until last weeks pub brawl. He served 10 years in consecutive jail sentences for attempted armed robbery and possession of a loaded double-barrelled sawn-off shotgun. SOS previously had close connections with Derek Bottler Devoy (34), who was the intended target of a gangland hit in August, in which Devoys sister and his pal were shot dead in Ballymun. There are now major fears that Mulveys introduction into the Finglas feud will lead to an escalation of violence. Alan Fatpuss Bradley Bradley (43) is back in jail, serving the last few weeks of his jail sentence after he won a High Court action against the Minister for Justice in relation to prison remission time. Fatpuss, his brother Wayne and other Don gang members pleaded guilty in the Circuit Criminal Court to conspiring to steal cash from Chubb Ireland in November 2007 at Tesco, Celbridge, Co Kildare. He was sentenced in April 2012 to nine years, with the final two years suspended. This sentence was reduced on appeal to eight years with 18 months suspended. The gang targeting Fatpuss comprise at least 10 out-of-control individuals. They have links to more senior criminals including a family-based mob whose members have convictions for drug dealing and firearms offences. Glen OToole Glen Glynn OToole was pals with Fatpuss and SOS but took his own life in Cloverhill Prison earlier this month after being charged in relation to a murder attempt on Mr Flashy. OToole (39), of Cappagh Avenue, Finglas, had been in Cloverhill Prison for just a few days after being charged with possession of a loaded gun and ammunition in the Ashtown area of Dublin. He was found dead under the sink in his cell. The close associate of a female member of the Hutch family had placed objects in his bed and covered them with a blanket to make it look like he was asleep when prison officers were carrying out inspections. OToole was the chief suspect in the shooting of Finglas criminal Kevin Ledwidge (27), who was gunned down outside his family home in 2007. An emotional Khalid Omran (far right), the father of three-year-old Omar Omran who died in a stabbing tragedy in Dublin helps carry his sons remains outside the mosque in Clonskeagh. Photo: Steve Humphreys The father of a three year old boy found with stab wounds said he arrived home from abroad to find his son was deceased. Khalid Omran, father of toddler Omar Omran, gave evidence at an inquest into his sons death. Little Omar was found with stab wounds at his home at the Riverside Apartments, Poddle Park, Kimmage, Dublin 12. He died on July 10 2017. A man who broke into his ex-girlfriend's house and threatened to kill her said he had no reason for his behaviour, other than that he had woken up in a black mood. David Clail (28) told gardai he blanked out and didn't know what he was doing on September 20, 2016 when he smashed his way into the house of a woman he had gone out with five years earlier. Clail pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to burglary armed with a flick knife, criminal damage, and threatening to kill Sharon Murphy at her home at The Green, Melrose Park, Kinsealy, Co Dublin. Judge Karen O'Connor adjourned the sentencing to December 14 next to allow Clail attend psychiatric appointments with the help of his parents and hopefully secure a diagnosis. The judge warned Clail, of Rory O'Connor House, Hardwick St, Dublin, that if he had any contact at all with Ms Murphy in the meantime he would be brought back before the court. Garda Joseph Robinson told Dean Kelly BL, prosecuting, that Ms Murphy was at home alone on the day in question and had lain down on her couch as she had a toothache. She told gardai that she woke up at about 4pm to the sound of booting and smashing at the front door and ran out to the hall to see a hand breaking through the glass of her front door. The court heard the couple had broken up five and a half years earlier but that she had bumped into him in town in the last year. Ms Murphy told gardai that all of a sudden, Clail was inside her hall and screaming that he was going to kill her. I told you this day would come, I'm going to destroy your life. You think you can play games, I'm going to kill you, get out of my f***ing way, he said. Ms Murphy said Clail went into the sitting room, pulled the TV off the stand and started dancing on it, before running into the kitchen with his eyes bulging. The court heard Clail began swinging a kitchen chair around, hitting things, then throwing the chair and running upstairs. He pulled the TV off the bedroom wall, smashed the mirror, pulled the doors of the wardrobe and stood on them, flipped Ms Murphy's bed and tried to break it. Ms Murphy said she was following him asking him why he was doing this, and that she then grabbed her phone and went into the bathroom and rang 999, before hiding her phone in the bathroom. When she came back downstairs, she said Clail was sitting at the kitchen table rolling a cigarette and making calls variously to his father, mother and sisters. Ms Murphy said Clail screamed that his two sisters were down the road and were going to kill her, and that his mother allegedly said on the phone that Ms Murphy deserved everything she gets. I'm going to kill your ma and da, I've lads out in the car who are going to butcher the two of them, said Clail, who also threatened to kill her grandmother. Ms Murphy said she felt sick and ran to the bathroom pretending to vomit in order to make another 999 call. She said Clail got a pickaxe and threatened to kill her dog and phoned his father again, shouting down the phone, I run this f****** family, you don't; get the INLA all you want. Ms Murphy said she was trying to calm Clail down and that she saw him take up to eight capsules out of his pocket and swallow them. When gardai arrived, Clail had stuck the flick-knife into the kitchen table and eventually agreed to open the door to the guards and lie down on the ground. Garda Robinson said they arrived to find a man with blood on his hands and a woman screaming from an upstairs window he has a knife, and substantial damage and destruction caused to the house. Clail was arrested and accepted that he had broken into the house against Ms Murphy's will, behaved in a threatening and violent way and caused considerable damage. "There is no reason so I can't give you a reason, he told gardai. I woke up in a black mood. I blank out and I don't know what I'm doing. I know I fucked things up, he said, adding that he wouldn't have touched Ms Murphy. Clail has one previous conviction dating from 2008. Patrick Jackson BL, defending, told the court that Clail had missed a number of psychiatric appointments and that it would be worth bringing in his parents to make sure he did attend these appointments. He asked Judge O'Connor to postpone sentencing in the hopes that Clail would get a psychiatric diagnosis in the meantime. A 21-year-old mother of one charged in connection with the handover of a loaded gun on a Dublin to Belfast train has been refused bail 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 yesterday. Nikita Murtagh (right) 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. 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 yesterday when she was served with a book of evidence. A State solicitor told Judge Bryan Smyth that the 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 DPP's 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. 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. 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 November 7. Emergency services are at the scene at Mountjoy Square 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 Anne Colomines (37) was murdered during a domestic dispute at the flat in Dorset Square, Dublin 1 on Tuesday night. Tributes have been paid to the French finance worker who was stabbed to death in her Dublin city apartment on Tuesday. Anne Colomines (37) was murdered during a domestic dispute at the flat in Dorset Square, Dublin 1 on Tuesday night. Her husband, Brazilian national Renato Gehlen (37), also suffered knife wounds to his chest. A close friend and former colleague of the Ms Colomines told Independent.ie that she was a "kind and fun-loving friend". "She was a very kind person. At work, she was very hardworking and always happy to help others. Everyone who knew her would say the same. I didn't know anyone who disliked her. "Anne spent a lot of time volunteering with homeless cats. She loved her cat, Kitty, with all her heart. "She was quiet and worked a lot but enjoyed going out for dinner with friends. Her friends and her family made her really happy. "Anne was such a kind, fun-loving friend who wore her heart on her sleeve. She'll be missed so much." Gardai believe that the French finance worker was stabbed to death by a person known to her. Expand Close Gardai at Dorset Square, Dublin 1. Photo: Colin Keegan / Collins Dublin / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Gardai at Dorset Square, Dublin 1. Photo: Colin Keegan / Collins Dublin The Irish Independent has learned that the chief suspect in the woman's callous killing dialled 999 operators in the aftermath of Ms Colomines' death and made admissions in relation to the crime. "Emergency services were alerted to the incident by an individual admitting to the killing, saying that he had killed the young woman," a senior source said. Ms Colomines, from Saintes in southwest France, worked as a senior financial agent with the Dublin office of a multi-national company. Preliminary investigations have established how Ms Colomines was stabbed several times in the body, in what gardai believe was a frenzied attack. Expand Close Victim Anne Colomines / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Victim Anne Colomines The French woman also received a knife wound to the neck, and investigators are probing the possibility that her murder was premeditated. Mr Gehlen was also discovered by emergency services at the scene with life-threatening knife wounds. He was rushed to the Mater Hospital and underwent emergency surgery yesterday morning. Investigators are anxious to speak to Mr Gehlen in the hope that he can shed light on the circumstances surrounding his wife's death. Last night he was still being treated for a knife wound to his chest, and had not yet been medically cleared to speak with detectives. "The surviving man will prove crucial to garda inquiries and will be able to help detectives to establish what happened in that house," a source said. Gardai were alerted to the incident at around 11.30pm on Tuesday night, as a number of Dublin Fire Brigade crews also rushed to the scene. Ms Colomines was pronounced dead in the property. A knife, believed to be the weapon used in the killing, was recovered in the aftermath. A full murder investigation has been launched by detectives at Mountjoy Garda Station, who are appealing for anyone with information in relation to the killing to come forward. It is understood that the murder victim had been living and working in Ireland for some time, and was based with a Dublin company over the past five years. She has been described as an animal lover and frequently refers to Phibsboro Cat Rescue charity on her social media account. The store 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. While members of the garda technical bureau carried out a forensic examination of the scene yesterday morning, a representative of the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was called to the scene and later left with a cat in a basket. The scene at the Dorset Square apartments remained sealed off throughout yesterday and gardai 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 yesterday morning and find gardai on the premises. Cambridge University's English literature professors could replace white authors with black writers, following proposals put forward by academic staff in response to student demands to "decolonise" the curriculum. For the first time, lecturers and tutors will have to "ensure the presence" of black and minority ethnic (BME) writers on their course, under plans discussed by the English faculty's teaching forum. The university denies there are plans to replace white authors with black ones. The move follows an open letter, penned by Lola Olufemi, Cambridge University Student Union's women's officer, and signed by more than 100 students, titled "Decolonising the English Faculty". "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," the letter said. "What we can no longer ignore, however, is the fact the curriculum, taken as a whole, risks perpetuating institutional racism." They said they were not seeking to exclude white men from reading lists. However, adding new BME texts and topics could lead to existing authors being downgraded or dropped, since there are no plans to lengthen courses to accommodate an expansion of reading materials. One proposal discussed by academics to address the students' concerns is for subject group committees (SGCs) - made up of academic staff - to "actively seek to ensure the presence of BME texts and topics on lecture lists". It was also suggested SGCs take editorial control of reading list folders and "actively encourage sharing of reading suggestions" of BME writers and topics. There are also plans for an introductory course of lectures in the first week of the academic year to "offer perspectives on the global contexts and history of English literature". The details were sent to students on behalf of English faculty chairman Professor Peter De Bolla, who heads the teaching forum, an institution set up for academic staff to discuss the curriculum and teaching issues. Gill Evans, emeritus professor of medieval theology and intellectual history at Cambridge University, said there were some "major problems" with this approach. "It goes with the calls to stop teaching predominantly Western or European history as well as literature. 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 16th century and took control - colonially or otherwise - of a very large part of it." Naming the new national children's hospital 'The Phoenix Children's Hospital Ireland' could be insensitive to families of deceased children whose organs were retained and subsequently incinerated, according to a number of doctors. The view was set out in a letter from Dr Shoana Quinn, chair of the joint paediatric medical advisory committee, comprising doctors in the three children's hospitals. She said many members of the committee held the view the reference to "phoenix" would serve as a constant reminder to these families of their loss. The letter was written to Eilish Hardiman, who is CEO of the Children's Hospital Group. A spokeswoman for the group said yesterday that hospital staff were involved in the naming process. She said the name came from a staff member. The former Master of Holles Street, Professor Peter Boylan, has written to the Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment to correct the record in relation to "assertions" made by Senator Ronan Mullen. Prof Boylan said Mr Mullen had made claims which were "at odds" with the facts presented during his testimony last week. Prof Boylan was one of several witnesses called to give evidence to the committee. He discussed the impact the Eighth has on clinicians in Irish hospitals. In his letter read into the public record yesterday, Prof Boylan said Mr Mullen was "absent" for much of the committee business, but then went on "at least two radio shows" during which he repeated "inaccurate" claims in relation to Prof Boylan's evidence. In particular, Mr Mullen "repeatedly claimed" the consultant treating Savita Halappanavar in Galway University Hospital where she died of sepsis, was "in no way constrained by the Eighth Amendment". Prof Boylan said such a statement was in "direct contradiction" of the evidence given by himself and Professor Sabaratnam Arulkumaran, both of whom "forensically" reviewed Ms Halappanavar's notes and investigated her death. Prof Boylan included in his letter transcripts of the inquest into Ms Halappanavar's death in which he said Dr Katherine Astbury, her treating consultant, "could not have been clearer" about how the Eighth Amendment prevented her from "intervening". Prof Boylan said last week that Ms Halappanavar "died as a consequence of the Eighth Amendment". At the inquest Dr Astbury was asked: "Did you feel in any way constrained or inhibited by Irish law in terms of the treatment you could afford Savita?" She responded: "Yes, because termination of pregnancy which is what she was requesting was not legal in the context in which she requested it." Prof Boylan added that such a point was "so fundamental" to the hearings of the committee that the record should be corrected in respect of Mr Mullen's inaccurate assertions. The committee heard yesterday from Prof Tom O'Malley, a law lecturer at NUI Galway, who said it is possible an abortion undertaken in the context of a rape claim could be used in a criminal trial. He said, however, such evidence would have to be presented in the context of the defendant's right to a fair trial. The "primary concern" of the court is to "provide fairness" to the accused, he said. Fianna Fail TD Lisa Chambers said she was "gravely" concerned whether a situation could then arise if the defendant in a trial was found not guilty, that a woman who claimed she was raped and received an abortion could then be prosecuted. At one point during proceedings Independent TD Mattie McGrath stormed out accusing the committee of pro-choice bias. Elsewhere, voting will close at 8pm today in a referendum to impeach UCD Student Union President Katie Ascough. Some students have criticised her for removing information about abortion services from a student magazine. A baby boy died after he suffered a lack of oxygen to the brain shortly before birth, an inquest heard. 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 after his birth. The second day of an inquest into the child's death heard from pathologist Dr Emma Doyle. The baby suffered lack of oxygen or stress before delivery, the pathologist said, but 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. Dr Michael O'Grady, consultant paediatrician at the hospital in Mullingar, told the inquest he was called in to the hospital about seven minutes after midnight. He said the paediatric team was 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. Chest compressions began 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. The infant was stabilised before he was transferred to the Rotunda in Dublin shortly after 8am. Rotunda-based paediatrician Adrienne Foran described the baby as clinically and profoundly encephalopathic. Withdrawal of care was recommended. Staff continued to care for Stevie to allow his mother to spend some time with him. The baby was baptised and died at 1.40am on April 30. Cause of death was severe hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy as a result of an acute hypoxic ischemic event on a background of foetal vascular malperfusion. Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane adjourned the inquest to deliver her verdict on November 15. Bryan Dobson on his last edition of Six One RTE broadcaster David McCullagh has ruled himself out of the running to replace Bryan Dobson on the 'Six One News'. The 'Prime Time' presenter last night said he had no wish to take over from Dobson, declaring: "I have a very lovely job already." McCullagh has been rumoured as a possible successor to Dobson along with Ray Kennedy and Claire Byrne. McCullagh paid tribute to his colleague, saying: "Brian is absolutely world class. You can drop him anywhere and he will broadcast from there." Dobson said his 21 years on the 'Six One News' had been "a blast" as he completed his final broadcast yesterday evening. The newscaster (57) bid farewell to viewers and his long-time co-host Sharon Ni Bheolain as he prepares to join the team on RTE Radio One's 'Morning Ireland'. Expand Close Dobbo' is praised by Sharon Ni Bheolain / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Dobbo' is praised by Sharon Ni Bheolain Ni Bheolain admitted she didn't look at her colleague while 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." Ni Bheolain thanked Dobson for being both a friend and mentor to her over the years. Expand Close Taoiseach Leo Varadkar with David McCullugh at the launch of the RTE broadcasters book on Eamon de Valera in the National Library. Photo: Mark Condren / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Taoiseach Leo Varadkar with David McCullugh at the launch of the RTE broadcasters book on Eamon de Valera in the National Library. Photo: Mark Condren "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". It featured him reporting on several significant world events such as Barack Obama's election as the first African-American president of the United States and the 9/11 terrorist attack. Dobson said his final goodbye while looking ahead to his new role on 'Morning Ireland', which he will begin next Wednesday. "I'm completely taken by surprise. "It's been a blast, it really has been fantastic. "I'm looking forward to pastures new so I'll be on the radio in the morning from Wednesday next week. "So as they say, I hate to go, but I'm afraid I have to." The Bar of Ireland has presented Catherine Corless its Human Rights Award relating to the discovery of the remains of 796 children on the site of a former mother and baby home in Tuam, Co Galway. Amature historian, Catherine Corless has spent years searching through the records of the former Saint Mary's mother and baby home. Her research showed that 796 children, mostly infants, had died from 1925 and 1961 in the home run by Bon Secours. Two local boys, Frannie Hopkins and Barry Sweeney, were playing in the field, 14 years after the home closed, where they discovered a hole covered by a concrete slab "full of skeletons... of children". After telling a local priest the site was covered over again, without any investigation into who was buried there or what had happened to them. Corless had heard about the story, and began to investigate who had been buried there. After contacting countless people (Bon Secours Headquaters in Cork, Western Health Board, Galway County Council), and getting nothing, she finally began to get information when she contacted the registry office Galway. Between 2011 and 2013, Corless paid 4 per death certificate of the children who had died while in the home. She eventually came to a number of 796 children, whos deaths had been caused by a range of diseases, including tuberculosis, measles and pneumonia, as well as neglect and malnutrition. This meant that the child mortality rate at the home was extremely large compared to the rest of Ireland at that time. After using a site map, she concluded that the most likely site where the children would have been buried was the sewage tank, which has been out of use since the 1930s. Corless and some fellow local historians began to appeal to put a permanant memorial there for the children who had died. Despite a local paper (2013) and the Connact Tribune (Feburary 2014) running the story, it was not brought to national attention until May 2014 when, focusing on the mass grave mostly, journalist Alison O'Reilly interviewd Corless. Without Corless's tireless and, until now, thankless work, this tradegy may have never came to light. Later today she will receive the Bar of Ireland Human Rights award, which she undoubtedly deserves for fighting for the 'forgotten children', who couldn't fight for themselves. Accepting the award, Corless said; I am truly honoured to receive The Bar of Ireland Human Rights Award. My work campaigning on behalf of the survivors of mother and baby homes continues and I hope that this special award will give even more survivors the strength to come forward to tell their story. With each and every testimony the truth is uncovered further and our campaign for justice to prevail is strengthened. I share this Award with the all survivors, this is for them. An Irish Rail chief has said he is "pretty sure" management could have found a river in the Republic instead of Northern Ireland to hold a controversial 20,000 angling event. Chairperson designate Frank Allen admitted he knew nothing of the trip sponsored by the cash-strapped semi-State company in Enniskillen before it took place. But, speaking at a Dail committee, he defended the company's decision to give such events its financial backing despite being close to insolvency. He said it was an opportunity for executives to network with their counterparts at other European railways. The company's spending came under fire as workers gear up for a series of 24-hour strikes from next Wednesday to get the same pay rise as Luas and Dublin Bus drivers. Fianna Fail's spokesperson on transport, Robert Troy, asked Mr Allen to justify the fact that the company, which had to defer maintenance of its tracks because of limited resources, was prepared to spend tens of thousands of euro on the trip for senior executives. "Do I think that we could have found a river someplace closer to one of our railway lines in the Republic of Ireland?" Mr Allen said. "I don't know anything about angling, but I'm pretty sure that it should have been possible to find a river somewhere." Mr Allen said he got an anonymous letter in the post about the sponsored event. The rail boss rejected claims previously made by Transport Minister Shane Ross while a journalist when he applauded a cut in Irish Rail's State subsidy and claimed it was a "swamp of waste and skulduggery". Mr Allen said he chaired the audit committee and reviewed detailed reports, including those on procurement, and never had any concern. In relation to next week's strike, he urged the parties to go back to talks. He said management understood employees' expectations for pay rises and had tabled proposals on how that could happen while taking account of the company's' grave financial circumstances. "I still hope that a solution can be found through further engagement," he said. In relation to reports that chief executive David Franks pulled the rug on a 2.5pc pay offer at the last minute at talks, he said he would expect him to be involved in the negotiations. Mr Allen said journey times would lose their reliability and consistency if there was "continued underinvestment" in infrastructure. He said there were temporary speed restrictions on sections of the network to "ensure that there is no compromise to safety". He also said he was "very confident" that the company would get an extra 103m subsidy next year as recommended by a Rail Review. Meanwhile, Dublin Bus chair Ultan Courtney said it was not the kind of company that went on corporate junkets. Along with Mr Allen and the chairman designate of Bus Eireann, Aidan Murphy, he accepted there was a low portion of women on their boards when it was put to them that just six of 27 directors are women. Mr Allen said this needed to change. Further serious concerns have been raised about navigation maps, equipment, and life-jacket beacons on the R116 Coastguard helicopter which crashed last March. RTEs Prime Time programme revealed new information about inadequate maps and equipment in a report by journalist Kathy Hannon. A previous report by the programme makers highlighted the absence of crucial mapping information about Blackrock Island which the helicopter struck with fatal consequences. The crash killed all four people on board. A moving map system used by the pilots showed Blackrock with the correct height. However the map is blurred at some settings and when zoomed in to a close range the actual height of the island is hidden behind the location code. It also emerged that a few weeks before the accident, coast guard pilots began testing a new electronic mapping system which was uploaded on to a mini ipad and strapped to the pilots knee boards. RTE Prime Time established that both pilots on Rescue 116 took these ipads on board on the night of the crash. This map was not approved for use as it was still on trial. It showed Black Rock island at 46 ft. In reality it is 282 ft at its highest point. RTE Prime Time revealed that search and rescue crews had been complaining about poor quality maps and navigation equipment for months before the crash. An employee for the company that operates the helicopter service told the programme Coast Guard pilots are still flying with blurred maps. It also reported that official aeronautical maps produced by the Irish Aviation Authority contain a number of significant errors. After Rescue 116 crashed, the Irish Aviation Authority was informed that Skellig Michael was depicted incorrectly on their maps. The Authority told RTE Prime Time last July that following the discovery of this error a review of all other coastal islands was conducted and their data verified. No further anomalies of substance were found. However, tonight's programme stated there are still other substantial anomalies. Achill Island is depicted in the official aeronautical quarter inch map with no contours or tinting to indicate high ground. In fact Achill Island has two peaks that are over 2200ft high. A recreational pilots association contacted the Irish Aviation Authority to outline this error and a number of other inaccuracies last May, saying pilots should be urgently warned about the potential hazards. The Aviation Authoritys Director of Safety Regulation responded that their inspectors had evaluated all of the specific details that were outlined and had determined that none of these issues affect the safety of any VFR operations. Since then new maps have been published. They contain the errors the IAA had been alerted to as well as a number of new errors, stated the report. Inishtarraght Island off the Kerry coast appears on the chart to have a highest point of 276 ft. It is 660 ft at its highest point. The Irish Aviation Authority, which has responsibility for the production of these maps, declined to comment due to the on going AAIU investigation into the Rescue 116 crash. Two Irishmen have been seriously injured in a plane crash in the Czech Republic. The two men, aged in their 50s and from Portlaoise, are understood to have received serious injuries after the aircraft incident near Prague yesterday morning. Locals last night said they were both avid flyers. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed last night it was aware of the incident and is providing consular assistance to the two men and their families back home in Ireland. At least one of the men is understood to be in intensive care in a local hospital. Both are understood to have suffered broken bones in the crash. Speaking to the Irish Independent, local councillor Mary Sweeney said 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," she said. The two men are understood to have been in the Czech Republic on business. 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 are family men in their mid-50s. The whole community will be wishing them a speedy recovery." Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the Government has lost patience with banks Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has poured cold water on the call by his government partners, the Independent Alliance, for a full criminal investigation into the banks at the centre of the tracker mortgage scandal. He said the government doesn't have the authority to instruct the Gardai to conduct investigations, adding that he wouldn't like to live in a country where it did have that power. His remarks come a day after the Independent Alliance issued a statement saying they believe what happened to 20,000 bank customers - who were wrongly taken off tracker mortgages and lost money as a result - should be subject to a criminal investigation. Mr Varadkar said that if people believe a crime has been committed or if they have evidence, it should be reported to the Gardai. "That's how we deal with crimes in this country. "The government doesn't have the authority to send in the Gardai or the fraud squad and I wouldn't like to live in a country, quite frankly, where politicians could order in the police or the fraud squad in the way that some people have suggested." Put to him that it is Fine Gael's coalition partners who want a criminal investigation launched, Mr Varadkar said: "You have my answer on that. "If people believe a crime has been committed, if they have evidence a crime has been committed well then they should report that to the Gardai." He added that part of the Central Bank's probe of the matter is to examine whether there has been collusion or fraud. Read More Mr Varadkar said: "There's a difference between breach of contract and criminal fraud. "There is a difference in our law between civil matters and criminal matters but there is a way to deal with both of them." Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe met the banks earlier this week and it was agreed that most people whose tracker mortgages were taken away will be repaid and compensated by the banks before Christmas. Mr Varadkar didn't accept criticism arguing that the government has effectively taken no action against the banks. He said: "I think Minister Donohoe's intervention this week has made a difference. "It's already the case that people were having their trackers restored to them and that people were being compensated but it was happening far too slow. "It was going on far too long and far too slow. "And that's really what required the government intervention in the past week. "What the banks have committed to is ensuring that the vast majority of people are put back on their trackers and are fully compensated by Christmas and in some cases into the first quarter of next year." Mr Varadkar pledged that the government "will hold the banks to account if they don't' do that". He added: "This is a timeline that they've set and if they don't live up to the timeline that they've set we'll be within our rights to take action then." The Taoiseach was speaking after he turned the sod at at the site of 19 planned social housing units in Donnybrook on Dublin's southside. Meanwhile, Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald has said banks will have to regain the trust of the public and the Government after the sorry saga over the tracker mortgage scandal. Fianna Fail and the Labour Party claimed Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe had not gone far enough during his discussions with the banks earlier this week. Mr Donohoe agreed a series of deadlines with AIB, Ulster, Bank of Ireland, KBC and Permanent TSB for the payment of redress, with the majority of affected customers to receive compensation by Christmas. If those deadlines arent met the Minister has threatened to take action including changes to tax policies. However, Fianna Fails Jim OCallaghan told the Dail that banks were acting as if they were above the law. He noted that the tracker mortgage issue has been in the public domain for seven years. He said the majority of banks were engaged in fraudulent behaviour. The response of the State to date has been pathetic, he said. Do you trust the banks or share my cynicism about them, Mr OCallaghan asked. Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin criticised the Minister for refusing to outline any potential sanctions. You have to wonder what it is about the banks in Ireland that allows them behave so disgracefully so often, he said. In response Ms Fitzgerald said the Government is taking action but the priority is that people who suffered endlessly would get redress and compensation. What we need now is to reassure those families that Government is determined to find a solution for each of those families, she said. He [Mr Donohoe] has set down clear deadlines for action so that those families can have at the very least the money that is owed to them repaid. She added: The Government are absolutely determined that people get a speedy resolution. Researchers from China and the UK used a genetic modification technique that allowed them to insert a gene into the pigs which means the animals can regulate their temperature better by burning fat. Stock photo: PA Bacon is about to get even better as scientists have created genetically modified pigs that have 24pc cent less fat than normal pigs. Researchers from China and the UK used a genetic modification technique that allowed them to insert a gene into the pigs which means the animals can regulate their temperature better by burning fat. Lead researcher Jian-Guo Zhao said: "It demonstrates a way you can improve the welfare of animals at the same as also improving the product from those animals - the meat." The breakthrough is being hailed as a significant advance. A mother whose daughter has a rare and painful skin disease described how local nurses become distressed when seeing the severity of her wounds. Cork parent Rachel Reid's 20-month-old daughter Alana suffers from the genetic skin condition called epidermolysis bullosa (EB), also known as butterfly skin. There is no cure for EB, and the only form of treatment is constant, painful bandaging of the skin. Speaking to the Irish Independent, Ms Reid said that there are no nurses in her locality trained to treat her. "Alana is the only EB patient in our area and we are very much left to our own devices," she said. "We have had nurses who have buckled from the experience, but we have no choice, we have to do it. "There is nothing normal about pinning your baby down while she screams in pain as you pop blisters with needles and wrap her whole body in bandages. "There are days she stares me dead in the eyes screaming, begging me to make it stop but we have to keep going, reminding yourself that one day she will understand why we are doing this," she said. Ms Reid and her husband Greg now have a carer to help them with the grueling process. "It takes the three of us and three hours to do it. There are days Alana is screaming so much that we have all been in tears," she said. With little medical support, the mother of two regularly has to email photographs of her daughter's wounds to Crumlin Children's Hospital for advice. "Having someone who is trained in all matters EB would eliminate these stressful and dangerous situations. "An outreach nurse for Alana could mean the difference between life or death," she said. Ms Reid and her husband even had to give up their full-time careers to look after their daughter. "Most nights we are lucky to get a 2/3 hours of unbroken sleep, sometimes it's just minutes. "Even when she sleeps we have to do physio on her hands to make sure her fingers don't fuse together - it's too painful to do while she's awake." Ms Reid spoke with Oireachtas representatives in Dublin yesterday, describing her daughter's situation and the essential need for more EB trained nurses. The delegation included representatives from Debra Ireland, the charity that provides hope and support for the 300 people in Ireland living with EB. This week (Oct 23-29) is National EB Awareness Week and Debra Ireland is trying to fight the non-curable disease by creating a butterfly effect on social media to raise both funds and awareness. Text BUTTERFLY to 50300 to donate 4 to Debra Ireland. The Ten Commandments are a central tenet of the Christian faith. But research has revealed that just six of them are still important to British Christians. Most Christians believe that four of the commandments are not "important principles to live by" according to a YouGov poll in the UK. The four which have fallen by the wayside are the requirement not to worship idols, use the Lord's name in vain, to worship no other God, and to keep the Sabbath day holy. Less than one in three Christians believe in preserving Sunday as a day of rest, with 38 per cent against using the Lord's name in vain and 43 per cent condemning the worshipping of idols. But most Christians, in common with the general public, still believe that it's wrong to disobey your father and mother, commit adultery, covet others' possessions, bear false witness, steal and commit murder. Stealing and killing were the most widely condemned transgressions, with 94 per cent of Christians and 93 per cent of non-religious people believing those commandments are still important and relevant. On Tuesday the Archbishop of Canterbury signalled support for a day of rest, tweeting that he was "encouraged" by the Chief Rabbi's campaign for people to spend time offline over the Sabbath. While almost half of Catholics said they supported keeping the Sabbath day holy, just 29 per cent of Protestants said they felt the same. The Bishop of Chelmsford, Stephen Cottrell, said: " In an age as busy, frantic and feverish as ours I would have thought that keeping the Sabbath, or at the very least observing a balance between work and rest and play was more important than ever. Sabbath is both a radical idea and a practically useful idea for it simply acknowledges that we need to rest and we need to play. Indeed, it says this is what we are made for." He also lamented Christians' abandonment of the commandment about idolatry, saying: "Whether it is celebrity, wealth, a certain designer label pair of jeans or a make of car, we have all construct a sense of worth in the desire to own and possess certain things that we believe will give value. "None of it works; or perhaps more accurately we should say it works just enough to get you hooked. Without being warned of the dangers of idolatry, we just become a society of junkies." But other senior Church of England figures said the statistics showed that the tenets of the Jewish and Christian faiths still held influence. The Bishop of Manchester, David Walker, said: "This survey shows that the practical morality which has lain at the heart of the Judeo Christian tradition for the last 3500 years still finds favour with most British people today, even where explicitly religious commandments gain less support. "Believers and non-believers alike support the simple, ancient statements which continue to provide the foundations of our legal system and our shared sense of right and wrong. "Britain today may be a more culturally and religiously diverse country than ever before, but across that diversity these pillars of wisdom are holding firm." Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022] An Air Namibia aircraft has suffered significant damage after a bird collided with the plane during landing. The incident known in the industry as a bird strike involved an Air Namibia A319-100 aircraft and an as-yet unknown bird on the approach to Hosea Kutako International Airport on Thursday, January 14. The plane landed safely and nobody was hurt, but a Twitter user later tweeted a photograph of the damage the bird caused to the fuselage. Paul Nakawa, the airlines spokesperson, told the Namibian news website that a bird strike can cause serious damage to aircraft. This afternoon we had a bird strike upon landing. We landed peacefully & we are all fine! @Prbeverlyangel #GoodNews pic.twitter.com/sTGx3WYc0d Ellen Angel (@pastor_ellen) January 14, 2016 Bird strikes are common during landing and taking off of an aircraft because these are the times when the aircraft is flying in the ranges where birds are also flying, he said. Regarding this recent incident, a big bird hit one of our four A319-100 aircraft that services our regional routes just when it was about to land. "It left one of the underbody panels of the aircraft damaged. He added that bird strikes are beyond human power, but pilots employ techniques learned in training to ensure the safety of passengers on-board. Nakawa said the airline apologised to passengers, all 112 of whom safely disembarked. Engineers have since been flown in from South Arica to repair the plane. A bird strike involving a Turkish Airlines aircraft last May left the plane with a crumpled nose (see below). Telegraph Travel looked at bird strikes in closer detail in 2011, with transport editor David Millward explaining that catastrophic bird strikes are a rare event. "Even though birds can and do cause damage to both the engine and windscreen in most cases, the impact is minimal. "Airports use a variety of techniques to keep birds away, including firing guns to scare them off. Some even use birds of prey, such as falcons, to disperse potentially hazardous flocks. "In addition, aircraft manufacturers test engines ability to cope with a bird strike by a using a device known as a chicken gun. "This entails catapulting poultry, in some cases frozen, at the engine to check how resilient it is to bird strike." Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022] NEW YORK - JANUARY 15: Rescue crews secure a US Airways flight 1549 floating in the water after it crashed into the Hudson River January 15, 2009 in New York City. Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images A plane was forced to make an emergency landing after it hit not just an eagle, but an eagle carrying a rabbit shortly after take off. Virgin Australia Flight VA-319 was departing Melbourne for Brisbane when it reported excessive vibration in its left engine and decided to return to the airport. The crew told air traffic controllers as it levelled off at 5,000 feet that the Boeing 737s number one engine had struck both an eagle, and the rabbit clutched in its claws. The plane, which was carrying up to 174 passengers, landed safely 17 minutes after departure. Tracking data from FlightRadar24.com shows how the planes ascent was curtailed around 4,500 feet before it performed a tight loop and returned to Melbourne. FlightRadar24 said the flight was then cancelled. Virgin Australia has been contacted for comment. The rare event was reported on the Aviation Herald, where one commenter joked it must have been a hare-raising experience for the crew. Expand Close Source: FlightRadar24 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Source: FlightRadar24 Though bizarre, it is not the most peculiar animal to have struck a plane in flight. In 1987 the New York Times reported on a mid-air collision between an Alaska Airlines aircraft and a fish. They found a greasy spot with some scales, but no damage, Paul Bowers, manager of Juneau airport, told the newspaper after assessing the aircraft for damage. According to the pilot, the impact occurred at about 400 feet as the Boeing 737 climbed out of the Alaska airport and crossed paths with a bald eagle carrying a fish in its talons. The eagle escaped injury. ''The law of the jungle prevailed,'' Mr Bowers said. ''As the larger bird approached, the smaller bird dropped its prey.'' The fish hit a small window at the top of the cockpit, Mr Bowers said. Bird strikes minus fish or rabbits, though still rare, are much more common. Expand Close NEW YORK - JANUARY 15: Rescue crews secure a US Airways flight 1549 floating in the water after it crashed into the Hudson River January 15, 2009 in New York City. Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp NEW YORK - JANUARY 15: Rescue crews secure a US Airways flight 1549 floating in the water after it crashed into the Hudson River January 15, 2009 in New York City. Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images According to the British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA), such events are rarely dangerous unless you are a bird, that is. Aircraft are designed and built to withstand bird strikes and pilots undergo rigorous training to enable them to deal with eventualities like a bird strike, said BALPA flight safety specialist, Stephen Landells. In my flying career I have experienced 10 bird strikes, none of which caused any significant damage. On half the occasions, in fact, due to the small size of the birds, I was not aware that I had hit one until inspecting the aircraft after landing. When a bird flies or is sucked into the engine of a plane, the poor critter usually disintegrates. However, in incidents with larger birds there can be extensive damage to the engine. The most famous bird strike of all time? The "Miracle on the Hudson" on January 15, 2009, saw US Airways Flight 1549 hit a flock of geese before performing a water landing on the Hudson River. The story became a Hollywood blockbuster, starring Tom Hanks, in 2016. Read more: Read More Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022] Loud and expensive: Ocean Drive in Miami with its iconic Art Deco architecture is a fantastic spot to enjoy the citys nightlife A new direct flight has taken off between Ireland and Miami. Ryan Nugent hops onboard... Set the mood Hair and face blown back, sun beaming down and zipping past Will Smith's oceanside holiday home - yep, this is what Miami is all about. If The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air doesn't tickle your fancy, how about some of his neighbours... David Beckham, Jennifer Lopez and Ricky Martin. Carmen Electra even has her own yacht (titled Electra) at the front of her mansion. All of this can be seen while moving at speeds of 60mph on the Thriller boat ride (thrillermiami.com), a must for anyone who sets foot in South Florida - just don't sit down the back if you're wearing anything you might want to keep dry. This was the 'save the best till last' part of the trip and really set the city apart... but there was lots more besides. Top tip Expand Close Loud and expensive: Ocean Drive in Miami with its iconic Art Deco architecture is a fantastic spot to enjoy the citys nightlife / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Loud and expensive: Ocean Drive in Miami with its iconic Art Deco architecture is a fantastic spot to enjoy the citys nightlife Where to stay in Miami? That depends. Families might consider pushing away from Ocean Drive (above) towards Miami Beach, where many of the nicer hotels are. If you're young and want to party, forget about hotel comforts and stay around South Beach or one of the cheaper options around Washington Avenue. Guilty pleasure This is when it gets a little pricey, but if there's something you fancy splurging on, then don't waste it on a dress or new shoes in Miami. Focus on the food... and certainly don't forget about a couple of tasty cocktails along the way. At the Four Seasons Hotel on Brickell Avenue (fourseasons.com/miami), a food buffet includes fresh seafood, a full roasted pig and even an outdoor barbecue at a cost of $75/64. Add in the unlimited drinks deal, and that tots up to $100/85 in total. It's difficult to say whether it's worth the money, but the delicious food definitely makes it tempting. Cheap kick Expand Close Miami at dusk. Photo: Deposit / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Miami at dusk. Photo: Deposit This is as cheap as it comes - it's free. If you're planning a trip to Miami, you can't go there without spending time at the world-famous South Beach. Just soak up the sun along the strip; it's always buzzing and if you walk all the way along the coast, you'll have more than 3km of sugar-white sand to enjoy. A warning, though... don't forget the sunscreen. Insider intel Get out to Wynwood - it's the city's hipster 'hood, but you don't have to be a hipster to enjoy it. Take a bike tour or just walk around to see hundreds, even thousands, of funky murals. The district features the work of some of the world's best graffiti artists, and almost every shopfront has something artsy going on. If you're happy to walk around and admire, it's free; if you fancy a guide, then hook up with local graffiti artist Ryan the Wheelbarrow (miamisbestgraffitiguide.com; from $27/23pp for groups). Glitches Miami ain't cheap. If you want to really enjoy it, you need to splurge a little, if not a lot. Anywhere along Ocean Drive - where everything happens at night - will charge high prices: some for entry, others for expensive cocktails. Get me there Ryan travelled with Aer LIngus (aerlingus.com), which launched a new thrice-weekly direct flight from Dublin to Miami this September. Fares start from 209 each way, when booked as part of a return flight. He stayed at the Grand Beach Hotel on Miami Beach (above, miamihotelgrandbeach.com; rooms from $170/145 per night). For more to see and do in the city, check out miamiandbeaches.com and visitflorida.com. Read more: Donald and Melania Trump leaving The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute Gala May 07, 2007 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images) US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump wait to welcome Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, at the White House in Washington, DC, February 15, 2017. / AFP / SAUL LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images) Akie Abe and Melania Trump visit the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens on February 11, 2017 in Delray Beach, Florida. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe played golf with U.S. President Donald Trump, while North Korea launched a ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan. (Photo by The Asahi Shimbun/The Asahi Shimbun via Getty Images) US President Donald Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump arrive for a concert of La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra at the ancient Greek Theatre of Taormina during the Heads of State and of Government G7 summit, on May 26, 2017 in Sicily Donald and Melania Trump attend the MET Costume Institute Gala Celebrating Chanel at the Metropolitan Museum of Art May 2, 2005 In New York City. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images) Ivanka Trump (R) and Melania Trump (L) appear before the second presidential debate at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri on October 9, 2016. / AFP / POOL / RICK WILKING (Photo credit should read RICK WILKING/AFP/Getty Images) US First Lady Melania Trump laughs with two guests before US President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of the US Congress on February 28, 2017, in Washington, DC. / AFP / ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS (Photo credit should read ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP/Getty Images) Body language is the new black in 2017. Despite the fact we live in a time where there is greater access to information than ever, US President Donald Trump isn't exactly a fan of transparency. His wife, first lady Melania Trump is almost mythically private and first daughter Ivanka only shares with the world the image she wants us to see. We caught up with body language expert Tracey Cox during her recent trip to Dublin to celebrate the launch of the new HTC U11, but mostly to analyse the Trumps. Melania's alleged disdain for her husband is no secret, from videos of her knocking his hand, her visible scowl or the infamous #FreeMelania memes from inauguration weekend. Cox believes the entire dynamic of their relationship changed when he was elected president, namely that being a trophy wife wasn't good enough anymore. Expand Close Donald and Melania Trump attend the MET Costume Institute Gala Celebrating Chanel at the Metropolitan Museum of Art May 2, 2005 In New York City. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Donald and Melania Trump attend the MET Costume Institute Gala Celebrating Chanel at the Metropolitan Museum of Art May 2, 2005 In New York City. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images) "Before he became president, she was incredibly natural and spontaneous; she was used to being in an adored role, she was great for him because shes pretty, but shes not a first lady and hes punishing her," she told Independent.ie. "When you compare them with the Obamas, when they look at each other and smile, the expression on their faces is completely different to anyone else. I think she just radiates anger with every possible pore." As for the hand slap heard round the world during their trip to Tel Aviv, Cox explains: "They are well aware people are watching them, shes basically saying F you. He treats her like a child now, its a definite power move. Shes not making it easy, she was sidelined before she even got there [the White House] and there was no including of her because its all about her looks. She knows it and shes showing it in her body language." Before Trump's presidential campaign, the pair were often pictured together side by side on the New York social scene - at the Met Gala or a premiere of The Apprentice, but she retreated from public life during his initial foray into politics. Video of the Day "I dont think Ive ever seen such awkward body language between two public personas, its just embarrassing," she added. "I think beforehand his body language was very much like, look at this woman, here I am with this delicate model'. He would touch her in inappropriate places telling the world, I can touch her wherever I want. "The minute he got to be president, he put her in her place as this subservient person. Shes really angry, you can see the tension: her shoulders are slumped and fists are always clenched. Shes unhappy, she doesnt look towards him or ever lean towards him, its a public battle of who is going to come out on top. "He cant even compete with that, hes given her no power whatsoever. She looks absolutely miserable." Expand Close US President Donald Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump arrive for a concert of La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra at the ancient Greek Theatre of Taormina during the Heads of State and of Government G7 summit, on May 26, 2017 in Sicily / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp US President Donald Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump arrive for a concert of La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra at the ancient Greek Theatre of Taormina during the Heads of State and of Government G7 summit, on May 26, 2017 in Sicily So, we're confident that all isn't well between Melania and Donald, but how does the enigmatic first lady interact with others? She's often pictured laughing and joking while meeting her international counterparts - with Japanese Prime Minister's wife Akie Abe or Queen Rania of Jordan - and she's a far cry from her stony-face exterior while spending time with children. "When you look back at all these pictures and you see her with other people, you get a good benchmark of what her normal body language is. Expand Close US First Lady Melania Trump laughs with two guests before US President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of the US Congress on February 28, 2017, in Washington, DC. / AFP / ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS (Photo credit should read ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP/Getty Images) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp US First Lady Melania Trump laughs with two guests before US President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of the US Congress on February 28, 2017, in Washington, DC. / AFP / ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS (Photo credit should read ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP/Getty Images) "She looks lovely and really happy, her arms are crossed in front of her again but shes mirroring the girl next to her which people sometimes do to make the other person more comfortable. Weve forgotten she can smile," Cox explains. Expand Close Akie Abe and Melania Trump visit the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens on February 11, 2017 in Delray Beach, Florida. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe played golf with U.S. President Donald Trump, while North Korea launched a ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan. (Photo by The Asahi Shimbun/The Asahi Shimbun via Getty Images) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Akie Abe and Melania Trump visit the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens on February 11, 2017 in Delray Beach, Florida. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe played golf with U.S. President Donald Trump, while North Korea launched a ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan. (Photo by The Asahi Shimbun/The Asahi Shimbun via Getty Images) Cox also thinks her relationship with Ivanka is strained, which has been largely reported due to Ivanka's unofficial role as substitute first lady with her own office in the White House and living in Washington D.C., while Melania still remains in New York with 11-year-old son Barron. "There is absolutely no love lost there, Ivanka is sitting there legs crossed, Melania is sitting with her legs crossed and her hand down, she looks like she wants to get up and walk away. Ivanka is very closed off, her face is turned away with an unwelcoming expression and everything is crossed. Theres no affection, they're sat as far as possible apart." Expand Close Melania and Ivanka Trump with Mike Pence / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Melania and Ivanka Trump with Mike Pence It was the same case at the inaguration, although, admittedly, you didn't have to be an expert to see the wall between Melania and her stepdaughter. "Shes not so comfortable with Ivanka, who is just as moody. Thats called blocking, her arms are crossed in front of herself as if to say, keep away from me, its a self-protection gesture; Ivankas hands are like a steeple with her fingers and thumb intertwined saying, Im the dominant one here so dont try to pretend that Im not. You can imagine the relationship between the two." Expand Close First lady Melania Trump (R), stands with Ivanka Trump as a parade passes the inaugural parade reviewing stand in front of the White House on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump was sworn in as the nation's 45th president today. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp First lady Melania Trump (R), stands with Ivanka Trump as a parade passes the inaugural parade reviewing stand in front of the White House on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump was sworn in as the nation's 45th president today. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) The HTC U11 will be available to purchase across all Irish phone networks in the coming weeks. The Sapphire Blue is available exclusively on the Vodafone network, while the Brilliant Black will be available on Three Ireland, Meteor and Carphone Warehouse. The HTC U11 can be purchased now, sim free on www.htc.com/ie from 749 and in a range of five colours. This year has seen the fashion world launch an attack on denim. No longer content with skinny, straight or flared, we've had distressed bell bottoms slit up to the knee, extreme oversized double denim and 'bare butt' jeans with a zipper running up the backside by cult French brand Vetements. Just when you thought you'd seen it all, along come 'thong jeans', which made their catwalk debut in designer Thibaut's spring-summer 2018 collection at Tokyo Fashion Week. Worn over a nude bodysuit, the front and back panels of the legs were completely removed, leaving nothing but the seams and an uninterrupted view of the model's rear end. It's difficult to keep up with the ever-more ludicrous denim trends, especially when most of us find shopping for regular jeans a unique form of torture. But the surprise new season must-have is just that: blue, straight-leg jeans - no wild flares, no frayed hems, no double denim layering, simply a low-key pair worn with a heap of confidence. Victoria Beckham (below) opted for classic straight jeans and a white T-shirt for her moment in the spotlight after her New York Fashion Week show, and Lupita Nyong'o sat in the front row in a similarly no-frills look. So this is the new pared-back uniform, which should be cause for celebration, but strikes fear in my heart. I loathe buying jeans. Is there anything that makes you feel more fat, squat and out of proportion than the moment you make eye contact with your reflection in an unforgiving changing-room mirror, your forehead slick with sweat from the store lights, your legs contorted, ripples of cellulite spilling out over the skin-tight waistband? I have short legs and thick thighs, and tend to avoid jeans as much as possible. I'll buy one pair on the high street and wear them until the seams split, to avoid having to try on any new ones for as long as possible. I'm not the only one, and stores are starting to cop on to the horrors of jeans shopping. Brown Thomas has enlisted 'expert denim fitters', like a personal shopper just for jeans, who will patiently guide you through the store's 'denim bar' until you find the so-called perfect pair. When I hear about this, I'm sceptical. I refuse to believe there is a perfect jean for every person, and certainly not for me. Nonetheless, I went to meet fitter Julie Allen at Brown Thomas Dublin. Julie is tall and slim, the kind of person I imagine could effortlessly slip into any style of jeans, even those ridiculous front-slit bell bottoms, and pull it off, so I wonder how much help she'll be to me. Expand Close Victoria Beckham in her straight-leg jeans / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Victoria Beckham in her straight-leg jeans The 'denim bar' houses more than 16,000 pairs of jeans, with some 250 styles, so she insists we will find the 'perfect' fitting pair. I accept I'll need to have the legs taken up (the standard leg length is a 32, and I'm a 28) but the store offers denim alterations that can be completed in an hour. Julie begins by asking what my favourite cut and colour is, and looks genuinely stunned when I tell her I have only one pair in my wardrobe. I prefer a straight leg and a medium blue tone, and am keen to stay away from anything distressed or embellished. Like most women, I'm conscious about the dreaded muffin top effect, which seems to be particularly egregious with jeans, so I'm firm about wanting a high-waist pair. I assumed the selection on offer would be very expensive, but prices start at a reasonable 75, ranging up to 350 for 'premium denim' labels like J Brand and Paige, which Julie explains are pricier because the jeans are handmade and hand-dyed in the USA. "It's like cosmetics, once you find a brand that suits you, you'll stick to it," Julie says. "Most denim brands have a loyal customer that comes back and won't look at anything but that one brand or style." A brand with a particularly loyal following is Salsa, a Portuguese label that sits at the lower price point, between 75 and 100. This is the first brand I try, and she explains the sizing is different from regular UK sizing: customers often have to go a couple of sizes up because the fit is much neater, which typically results in some affronted grumbling. Julie gives me two pairs to take to the fitting room, then she scoots around the floor and brings in other options once we know my exact size. Video of the Day She explains that the key to finding the right size is "as tight as you can bear them without it being uncomfortable". After a few wears, the denim loosens up, but won't fall out of shape, so it's better to go tighter than opt for a roomy pair. She often hears complaints from customers who were given bad advice elsewhere and found their 'perfect fit' jeans gaping at the back and sagging at the knees after three or four wears. So in I go: just me, a mirror and soon we've racked up a dozen pairs of jeans. It is not pleasant. Jeans shopping is not a style challenge to take on lightly - it demands at least a couple of hours, and negotiating my way into stiff denim proves to be akin to taking a HIIT class. "It'll never be as fun as trying on dresses or occasionwear," Julie concedes. "Women often leave here sweating." She notes that straight-leg jeans tend to be mid-rise rather than high, so I sweat my way through a raft of pairs, a few of which Julie insists look good but leave me self-consciously hugging my waist and cringing with discomfort. She shrugs it off: "Even if the mid-rise can suit you, the most important thing is you want to feel comfortable." The high-rise jeans on offer aren't any better - the stiff 'secret tummy tuck' effect on the waistband packages fat in a ghastly bulge at the front, while at the back, the excess fabric renders any hint of a bum utterly flat. I begin to lose hope, until one of Julie's colleagues unearths a pair of vintage-style high waist jeans by 7 For All Mankind, similar to the look VB sported on the catwalk. It's a miracle! But what is it that makes these work and the others so unsightly? According to Julie, it's partially because the denim is softer, so it's more comfortable on the hips, and a lot of it is down to where the back pockets sit. Some brands might use one size pocket for three different sizes of the same jeans, while other brands will tweak the pocket for each individual size. "When the pocket is smaller, that can flatten the bum and if they place the pocket lower, especially on a high rise, it can elongate your bum," Julie explains. Luckily, these pockets are just right. The perfect jeans don't come cheap: at 240, they're the most expensive ones I've owned, but I find myself furtively admiring my reflection for a change. The shape is good on the stomach, the legs and the all-important back side, and since the jeans have been shortened, I've been wearing them every weekend and changing into them when I head out after work - they look smart with heels and laid-back with trainers or boots, while the colour works for day or evening. I'm a convert. Guinness World Records has created something lovers of everything cute and soft wont be able to get enough of. The Amazing Animals Fluffytorium has opened in London and, as you might be able to guess, its there to celebrate all things fluffy. The Fluffytorium invites members of the public to spend time in a room with furniture and even walls made of fur and filled with the fluffiest dogs and cats around. A floof paradise indeed and it turns out the Fluffytorium might be a much-needed sanctuary. According to Guinness World Records, they did some research and found that only a third of pet owners in Britain would consider having a long-haired pet put off by moulted hair. Expand Close Cats in the exhibit / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Cats in the exhibit Instead people are opting for shorter-haired varieties such as Labradors, French Bulldogs and Pugs. The Fluffytorium has been set up to celebrate the release of Guinness World Records new title Amazing Animals a book focused on record-breaking and fascinating animals. The Fluffytorium opens its doors on October 27 and 28 in Soho. Expand Close A small dog / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A small dog We all live such busy lives, said Craig Glenday, Editor in Chief at Guinness World Records. If spending some time stroking a Chow Chow and thumbing through a Guinness World Records book doesnt amuse and relax you, I dont know what will. The reality is quickly dawning for many that Xi Jinping sees his rule of China in terms of decades, rather than two five-year presidential terms. The Chinese president opened the 19th party congress saying China had entered a "new era" where it will take "centre stage" at the middle of the century. He ended it by imposing his will on the party and top tier of government, suggesting that he is seeking to continue his rule up until that vision comes into view. Firstly, on the final day of the event on Tuesday, he enshrined his ideology into the constitution, elevating him to the same political level as China's founding father Mao Zedong. Any attack on Mr Xi is now an attack on the party itself, and the party is considered irreproachable in the Chinese political system. With Mr Xi's name included in its constitution, potential opposition has been dealt a crushing blow. And then, yesterday, the 64-year-old leader unveiled a new Politburo Standing Committee - the top rung of government - that included a mixture of trusted allies and ageing, but capable, officials. However, there was no successor. Mr Xi's six colleagues on the standing committee will all be too old to take over when he is expected to step down at the next party congress in 2022. China has an unwritten rule that senior officials must retire when they reach 68, and all of the PSC members are aged 60 or over, meaning they cannot serve two five-year terms as president. If Mr Xi is to continue as leader of China beyond the end of his second term in five years' time, this will be a significant break with precedent in China, where recent leaders have served for two five-year terms. Steven Tsang, director of the China Institute at SOAS, University of London, said Mr Xi was driven by his view China's path was intrinsically linked to his own. With that in mind, no one should be surprised that the president sees himself as ruler of China until his health permits. "The reality is that Xi outlined a vision for China for the next three decades and fulfilling this vision will require the leader imposing tight discipline on the Communist Party so that it will be effective in leading the people of China to the promised land that he outlined," Prof Tsang said. "Who can provide such strong vision? Obviously, there is no one but President Xi." Prof Tsang said in 2022 Mr Xi will seek to convince the Chinese people that he has to "forsake the prospect of retirement and soldier onfor the greater good". Jean-Pierre Cabestan, a China expert at Hong Kong's Baptist University, said there were three reasons why Mr Xi did not appoint a successor. Firstly, because it was clear that "Xi wants to cling to power". He also said a president-in-waiting would be perceived as "inconvenient". "He or she needs to toe the line and stay quiet, and the official number one has someone blowing in their neck," he said. Lastly, Prof Cabestan said Mr Xi wanted to "test potential successors and make them compete". There is always the possibility that Mr Xi could appoint a fresh face at the 20th party congress that has been groomed by him for immediate power, and Chongqing chief Chen Min'er (56) and Hu Chunhua (54), the Guangdong party chief, are potential candidates. But if that happens, then speculation will swirl once again around Mr Xi in 2022 on whether he will relinquish his authoritarian grip or continue to rule behind the throne to ensure his vision becomes a reality. China's Communist Party unveiled its new leadership line-up yesterday, granting President Xi Jinping another five years in power as general secretary and including no obvious successor in the senior-most ranks. Mr Xi introduced the six other all-male members of the Politburo Standing Committee to the media, breaking with recent convention by not including a potential heir in the line-up. That appears to raise the chances that Mr Xi could stay on in power beyond 2022. Ushers at Tiananmen Square for the opening of the National Congress of the Communist Party of China. Photo: Reuters On Tuesday, the Communist Party amended its constitution to insert 'Xi Jinping Thought' as a guiding principle for the party, elevating Mr Xi to the same status as its most important historical figures, Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. That means Mr Xi is likely to wield ultimate authority in the party as long as he is alive, experts say, and makes any challenge to that authority tantamount to an attack on the party itself. Yesterday morning, Mr Xi led his six colleagues out on to 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 earlier voted to give him five more years as general secretary - saying he saw 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 Mr 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. But none of the newcomers are young enough to be realistic candidates for the top job at the next party congress in five years' time. Among those stepping down was a key Mr Xi ally, the head of the powerful anti-corruption authority, Wang Qishan, who at 69 had reached the normal retirement age. Mr Xi (64) and Mr 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. This time around, there is no such succession plan. Guangdong party secretary Hu Chunhua (54) and Chongqing party boss Chen Min'er, (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. "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 Mr Xi plans to remain in power beyond the next party congress in 2022." In the meantime, this leaves Mr Xi more powerful than ever, having already overshadowed and undercut Mr Li, whose role is mainly 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 People's Congress. Then comes vice premier Wang Yang (62), who had a reputation for encouraging innovation and greener growth while party boss in the southern city of Guangdong. Ally Next is Wang Huning (62), who is director of the party's Central Policy Research Office, a former political scientist who worked on ideology for two previous presidents, has since become a close ally of Mr 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 Mr Han were seen as Mr Xi's cronies, but both will have had to work hard to prove their loyalty to the president to have risen this far. Nevertheless their appointment will help to 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 aren't any powerful figures from any of them. Xi has assumed absolute authority." Experts said the concentration of power poses a risk for China, making it harder for the Communist Party to change course when necessary, but also raising the possibility of a power vacuum should Mr Xi suddenly become ill or die. Mr Zhao's role running the anti-corruption agency puts him at the centre 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, said Mr Stepan at Merics. But party convention suggests that anyone aged 68 or above at the five-yearly congress should retire, meaning that none of the current standing committee are young enough to be candidates for two terms as general secretary and president in 2022. Mr Xi ended the event by thanking the media for covering the party congress, saying China didn't need "lavish praise from others", but welcomed objective reporting and constructive suggestions. Then he concluded with two lines from an ancient poem about a plum blossom in an ink painting, which "doesn't need people to praise its nice colour, 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 line-up. Censorship has been significantly stepped up in China since Mr Xi took power. ( The Washington Post) Shares in Barclays tumbled after poor trading at its investment banking arm overshadowed a rise in third-quarter profit. The lender said pre-tax profit rose from 837 million to 1.1 billion, with boss Jes Staley describing the period as particularly significant. However, income at the banks markets division fell 14% to 3.5 billion because of lower market volatility. Macro income, which comprises fixed income, currencies and commodities, fell 27% to 1.3 billion. Mr Staley said: The third quarter was clearly a difficult one for our markets business within Barclays International. A lack of volume and volatility in fixed income, currencies and commodities hit markets revenues hard across the industry, and we were no exception to this trend. Shares slumped more than 6% in morning trading to 185.8p as investors digested the update. In better news, Barclays third-quarter results were buoyed by the absence of a payment protection insurance (PPI) provision. The first half of the year saw Barclays put 700 million aside to cover costs relating to the scandal, which has engulfed the banking sector. The groups total PPI bill stands at 9.1 billion. Net operating income came in at 4.46 billion in the quarter, versus 4.65 billion in the same period last year. Mr Staley added: The third quarter of 2017 was particularly significant for Barclays as it was the first for many years in which we have not been in some state of restructuring. We did however see an improvement in profitability in Barclays UK, and a good underlying return from our consumer, cards and payments business, which partially offset the under-performance in markets. Expand Close Jes Staley investigation / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jes Staley investigation Mr Staley has been overseeing an asset disposal programme that has seen Barclays offload non-core businesses in a bid to focus on core UK and US operations. The group has shed 60,000 jobs as part of the shake-up, which the chief executive said will allow Barclays to focus on generating profitability. He also brushed aside industry fears of a consumer debt boom in the UK, saying it is not raising any significant alarm at the bank, although he admitted Barclays is keeping an eye on it. Group profit before tax for the first nine months of the year was up 19% to 3.4 billion. Barclays also said it is proposing a restructure to help it meet regulatory rules which demand that all British banks with more than 25 billion of UK deposits section off their retail operations from their riskier investment banks by 2019. The lender plans to set up a separate entity, Barclays Bank UK, to comply with the requirement. Ring-fencing aims to avoid a repeat of 2008, when everyday peoples deposits were put at risk and the Government was forced to bail out lenders left stricken by the collapse of the sub-prime mortgage market. Mr Staley himself has also come under fire this year after attempting to identify a whistleblower at Barclays. The Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority are investigating the Americans conduct relating to the incident. Laith Khalaf, senior analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: Litigation still remains a risk for Barclays, with more than 20 separate investigations ongoing, not least one relating to CEO Jes Staleys attempt to uncover a whisteblower in his own ranks. Michel Temer leaves the Military Hospital, where he was treated briefly for a urinary obstruction (AP) Brazil's P resident Michel Temer survived a key vote on Wednesday night on whether he should be tried on corruption charges, mustering support 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 organisation, the president needed the support of at least one third of the 513 deputies in the Chamber of Deputies. He reached the threshold of 171 about two hours into the voting. 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 percent of Brazilians who have already convicted Temer's 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 runs until December 31 2018. Many feel the administration lacks legitimacy because of how Temer came to power. Temer didn't get as much support as he did in August, when 263 voted in his favour and 227 opposed. In both votes, the number of supporters came well below the 308 votes, or three-fifths of the chamber, he would need to pass major reforms such as a proposed overhaul of the pension system. Congressman Alessandro Molon, who voted against Temer, said: "We are going to be stuck with a lame duck president for one more year. "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." Earlier in the day, Temer was hospitalised 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 Brazil's halls of power. Dozens of politicians and businessmen have been jailed in the probe. Prosecutors allege Brazil's 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. Temer denied the charges and contends the prosecutor who brought them had a grudge against him. AP Carles Puigdemont says Madrid is "trying to create an even more extraordinary serious situation" (AP) Protesters march during a protest against the Spanish government in Barcelona (AP) The leader of Spain's secession-minded Catalonia region says he has decided against calling a parliamentary election that might have defused tension with the Spanish government. Carles Puigdemont said he considered calling a snap election, but was choosing not to because he did not receive enough guarantees that the central government's "abusive" moves to take control of Catalonia would be suspended. In a hastily called address from his palace in Barcelona, the separatist leader said the regional parliament will decide how to respond to the takeover plan. The unprecedented measures are set to be approved on Friday in Madrid and will lead to the first direct intervention by central authorities in the affairs of one of the country's 17 autonomous regions. Spain's conservative government had offered to halt the extraordinary measures if a new election was called in Catalonia, but recently backtracked on that. Mr Puigdemont said: "Consequently I can't organise parliamentary elections. There is no guarantee that justifies elections. He said it is now up to the existing regional parliament to determine how to respond to the Spanish government's plan to take over significant powers from the region. Regional legislators convened shortly after he announced his decision on the election. "Peace and civism must remain," Mr Puigdemont said. "Only this way, we will be able to win." Earlier on Thursday, two parliamentary officials told the Associated Press that Mr Puigdemont had offered through mediators to call the election if the central government dropped the takeover bid, but that prime minister Mariano Rajoy's ruling Popular Party refused. It was not clear that an election would have solved Spain's problems with Catalonia, as polls consistently show pro-independence parties would probably win the most seats again. Catalonia's independence bid has led to Spain's deepest political crisis in the four decades since the country restored democratic rule after General Francisco Franco's dictatorship. The government of Catalonia, a prosperous region of 7.5 million people, has been in a heated political battle with the Spanish government since it scheduled a disputed referendum on independence. Those who voted on October 1 were overwhelmingly in favour, but less than half of eligible voters went to the polls in a vote that had been outlawed by Spain's Constitutional Court. Mr Puigdemont insists the referendum gave him the mandate to declare independence, but he has stopped short of proclaiming a new republic, saying he wants to give the Spanish government a chance to negotiate. AP Opposition supporters burn tyres and barricade roads as they confront police in Kisumu (AP) At least four people have been killed as opposition supporters boycotted the re-run of Kenya's disputed presidential election, clashing with police and forcing authorities to postpone voting in areas hit by violence. While most of Kenya was peaceful, voter turnout was relatively low, even in some regions considered to be strongholds for President Uhuru Kenyatta, who was declared the winner of an August 8 election that was later nullified by the Supreme Court in a decision seen as precedent-setting for Africa. Polling stations in some areas supporting opposition leader Raila Odinga did not open on Thursday because of sporadic unrest in which police fired bullets and tear gas at stone-throwing protesters who heeded his call for a boycott and maintained the election was not credible. Voting in four counties, including the opposition stronghold of Kisumu, will be held on Saturday, said Wafula Chebukati, chairman of Kenya's electoral commission. Police said one person died of a gunshot wound in Kisumu when about 300 people "stormed into" a vote-counting centre. Another person was shot dead in Homa Bay in western Kenya, when hundreds of people tried to force their way into a police base. A third person died at a Kisumu County hospital after being brought in by someone who said he had been shot in a confrontation, the statement said. Earlier on Thursday, a police source said another person was killed in Athi River town outside the capital Nairobi. Police reported violence in five of Kenya's 47 counties. Protesters started fires and blocked roads in Kisumu, where 25 people were injured in clashes with police, said Aloyce Kidiwa, a county medical officer. The injuries included many gunshot wounds. Not a single ballot box was delivered to central Kisumu's 190 polling stations, a senior election official, John Ngutai Muyekho, said. He sat with the uncollected boxes in a school guarded by security forces. "If anyone comes to collect, I'm ready. But so far no one has," he said. One Kisumu school that saw huge lines of voters on August 8 was closed, its gates locked. "We are not going to vote and we are not going to allow it," said Olga Onyanga, an Odinga supporter. Violence also erupted in Nairobi's Kibera and Mathare slums. In Mathare, an Associated Press photographer saw protesters stopping people to check their fingers for the tell-tale ink stains that proved they voted. In one case, they harassed a woman until police scattered them with tear gas. The Supreme Court nullified the August election because it found what it called illegalities and irregularities - the first time a court in Africa had overturned a presidential vote. The ruling was sharply criticised by Mr Kenyatta, who seeks a second term. He voted again in his home town of Gatundu, saying he would work to unify the country if re-elected. "What we have is a problem of tribalism, and tribalism is an issue that we must continue to deal with and fight with as we continue to develop our country," he said. Many observers say Kenya's ethnic-based politics overshadow the promise of its democracy. Mr Kenyatta, who had 54% of the vote in August, is from the Kikuyu group; Mr Odinga, with nearly 45% in the earlier election, is a Luo. Mr Odinga has said the new election would not be credible due to a lack of electoral reform and accused Mr Kenyatta of moving a country known for relative stability and openness towards authoritarian rule. The rivals also faced off in a 2013 election similarly marred by opposition allegations of vote-rigging. The opposition leader also ran unsuccessfully in 2007, and ethnic-fuelled animosity after that vote killed more than 1,000 people and forced 600,000 from their homes. AP A suicide bombing outside one of Islam's holiest sites killed four Saudi security officers and wounded five others. Similar attacks outside a Shiite mosque and a US Consulate in two other Saudi cities raised fears of a co-ordinated assault aimed at destabilising the Western-allied kingdom. The attack happened outside the sprawling mosque grounds where the Prophet Muhammad is buried in Medina. Millions of Muslims from around the world visit the mosque every year as part of their pilgrimage to Mecca. The interior ministry said the attacker set off the bomb in a car park after security officers raised suspicions about him. Several cars caught fire and thick plumes of black smoke were seen rising from the site of the explosion as thousands of worshippers crowded the streets around the mosque. No group has yet claimed responsibility for any of the attacks. Expand Close Muslims walk outside the Al-Masjid al-Nabawi (The Mosque of the Prophet) before the early morning prayer of al-Fajr in the holy city of Medina, Saudi Arabia REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh/File Photo / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Muslims walk outside the Al-Masjid al-Nabawi (The Mosque of the Prophet) before the early morning prayer of al-Fajr in the holy city of Medina, Saudi Arabia REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh/File Photo Altayeb Osama, a 25-year old Sudanese visitor to Medina and resident of Abu Dhabi, said he heard two large booms about a minute apart as he was heading toward the mosque for sunset prayers. He said police and fire engines were on the scene within seconds. "It was very shocking that such a thing happens in such a holy place for Muslims, the second holiest place in the world. That's not an act that represents Islam," he said. "People never imagined that this could happen here." The ruling Al Saud family derives enormous prestige and legitimacy from being the caretakers of the hajj pilgrimage and Islam's holiest sites in Mecca and Medina. The attack may have been an attempt to undermine the Saudi monarchy's claim of guardianship. In 1979, extremists took over Mecca's Grand Mosque, home to the cube-shaped Kaaba, for two weeks as they demanded the royal family abdicate the throne. Last year, the Saudi government was accused of gross negligence by regional enemies, primarily Iran, after a crush of pilgrims during the annual hajj killed at least 2,426 people and a crane collapse over the Grand Mosque killed 111 worshippers. The Prophet Muhammad's mosque was packed on Monday evening with worshippers during the final days of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which ends in the kingdom on Tuesday. Expand Expand Previous Next Close Muslim worshippers gather after a suicide bomber detonated a device near the security headquarters of the Prophet's Mosque in Medina, Saudi Arabia, July 4, 2016. REUTERS/Stringer People stand by an explosion site in Medina, Saudi Arabia (Courtesy of Noor Punasiya via AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Muslim worshippers gather after a suicide bomber detonated a device near the security headquarters of the Prophet's Mosque in Medina, Saudi Arabia, July 4, 2016. REUTERS/Stringer Local media say the attacker was intending to strike the mosque when it was crowded with thousands of worshippers gathered for the sunset prayer. State-run news channel al-Ekhbariya aired live video of the mosque filled with worshippers praying hours after the explosion. It also showed footage of Saudi King Salman's son and the Governor of Medina, Prince Faisal bin Salman, visiting security officers wounded in the blast and the site of the explosion. Also on Monday evening, at least one suicide bomber and a car bomb exploded near a Shiite mosque in eastern Saudi Arabia, several hours after a suicide bomber carried out an attack near the US Consulate in the western city of Jiddah. Saudi Arabia has been a target of Islamic State attacks that have killed dozens of people. In June, the interior ministry reported 26 terror attacks in the last two years. New security screenings have started for all passengers on US-bound flights, with airlines worldwide questioning travellers about their trip and their luggage in the latest Trump administration decision affecting global travel. However, confusion remains about the new regulations, which come at the end of a 120-day period after the US lifted a ban on laptops in plane cabins affecting 10 Middle Eastern cities. The new regulations cover about 2,100 flights from around the world entering the US on any given day. Some airlines said they had received permission to delay implementing the new rules until January. At Dubai International Airport, the world's busiest for international travel, long-haul carrier Emirates began questioning passengers about their luggage, liquids they were carrying and where they were travelling from. Passengers also had to have their carry-on bags searched, along with their electronics. Emirates declined to discuss the new procedures in detail, but on Wednesday, it said it would conduct "passenger pre-screening interviews" for those travelling on US-bound flights as well as other checks on electronics. Elsewhere, things did not appear to be going so smoothly. In China, an official in the Xiamen Airlines press office said the airlines received a "demand" about the new US regulations and planned "to take some security measures, including security safety interviews from today on". "We're not going to interview all passengers, but focus on those with a certain degree of risk when checking the passengers' documents on the ground," he said. An official with the Eastern Airlines publicity department said she saw media reports about security safety interviews but did not have immediate details on what her company was doing. An official at the Beijing Airport press centre would only say: "We always strictly follow relevant regulations of the Civil Aviation Administration when conducting security checks." An Air China official said the country's flag carrier would comply. "We will meet the demands from the US side, but as for the detailed measures (we will take), it is inconvenient for us to release," he said. South Korea's Transport Ministry said the US had agreed to delay implementing the new screening for the country's two biggest carriers, Korean Air Lines and Asiana Airlines, until next year on condition they deploy staff at boarding gates to monitor travellers. Royal Jordanian, based in Amman, also said it would introduce the new procedures in mid-January. Other airlines with US-bound flights at Seoul's Incheon International Airport brought in as many as seven extra staff on Thursday to question passengers under the new rules but there were no major delays, airport spokesman Lee Jung-hoon said. Singapore Airlines passengers may be required to "undergo enhanced security measures" including inspection of personal electronic devices "as well as security questioning during check-in and boarding", the carrier said on its website. Other carriers who announced the new regulations on Wednesday included Air France, Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific, the airlines of Germany's Lufthansa Group and EgyptAir. US carriers are also affected by the new rules. Delta Air Lines said it was telling passengers travelling to the US to arrive at the airport at least three hours before their flight and allow extra time to get through security. AP The website describes itself as a place where people can be "open and honest" in defining the conditions of their relationship Officials in Paris have called adverts for a dating website linking students with rich men and women "shameful", and say they will work with police to remove them. The RichmeetBeautiful website has been displaying a large mobile billboard across the French capital, encouraging students to get in touch with "sugar daddies" and "sugar mamas" to subsidise their studies. It reads: "Romance, passion and no student loan, go out with a sugar daddy or sugar mama." Gender equality minister Marlene Schiappa said she will look into whether the dating website - for people above 18 - is encouraging prostitution. The website describes itself as a place where people can be "open and honest" in defining the conditions of their relationship. AP The rescue service for northern Norway confirmed the crash on Svalbard A Russian helicopter with eight people on board has fallen into the sea off Svalbard, an Arctic archipelago that belongs to Norway, rescue officials said. The rescue service for northern Norway said the helicopter was en route to Barentsburg, Svalbard's second largest settlement, from the Russian settlement of Pyramiden. "We have found oil on the water but no wreck," said Olav Bjoergaas, a spokesman for the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centres for northern Norway. He added that there was poor visibility and heavy snowfall in the region. Svalbard is more than 500 miles north of Norway's mainland. It is known for stunning views of snow-covered mountains, fjords and glaciers. The rescue service said the helicopter went down less than two miles from Barentsburg. The aircraft was a Russian Mili Mi-8 belonging to Russian charter company Konvers Avia. Russian state news agencies Tass and RIA Novosti cited company deputy director Dmitry Zhelyazkov as saying there were eight people aboard - three pilots and five passengers. Tore Hongset, another spokesman for the rescue co-ordination centre, told Norwegian news agency NTB that it did not receive any mayday signal from the helicopter. "As far as we have heard, we are talking about a crash," Mr Hongset said. Several units, including two helicopters from the local Svalbard governor and ships from the coastguard and local fishermen were at the presumed crash site, Mr Bjoergaas said. Local hospitals were on high alert. In March 2008, three people were killed after a Russian Mi-8 helicopter with nine people on board crashed about two miles from Barentsburg. AP Kolkata, Oct 26 (IBNS): Eastern India annual business-to-business (B2B) exhibition on food and hospitality industry a the 16th International Food Tech India Bakery Tech & Hotel Tech Exhibition was inaugurated on Thursday in Kolkata. The Food Tech India 2017 Exhibition would be on till Oct 29, 2017, and remain open each day from 10:30 am till 6:30 pm This year the exhibition is expecting to clock Rs 30 crores of business-to-business (B2B) transaction in the four-day exhibition. The Exhibition had notched up spot B2B transactions worth Rs 20 crore last year. The Exhibition will expand its footprint beyond India for the first time and hold an Exhibition in Dhaka in association with the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI). The Food Tech India Exhibition, which is held in Kolkata, Delhi, Bangalore recently made its debut in Guwahati. From next year we shall open our Bangladesh chapter by taking this FoodTech Exhibition to Dhaka next year in association with the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Bangladesh Auto Biscuit & Bread Manufacturers Association, said Zakir Hossain, Regional Head of N K Kapur & Company and the Chief Convener of the International Exhibition. This year over 100 foreign and Indian companies and global brands are participating in the Exhibition, showcasing their latest products and technology. The 16th Food Tech India 2017, is bullish on growth through joint ventures, collaborations, industrial licences and 100% export-oriented-units (EoUs). Many foreign companies have evinced interest in India and are scouting for business opportunities in the food and hospitality sector. Food Tech India 2017 offers a perfect B2B platform for foreign and Indian companies in the areas of food production, food packaging, food and the hospitality sector, said Zakir Hossain. New Delhi, Oct 26 (IBNS): The stunning pictures of Indian wildlife in Shivang Mehta's 'A Decade with Tigers: Supremacy. Solitude. Stripes' is a testament to the magnificence of our natural world, said well-known author and conservationist Valmik Thapar. The book will be released on Friday at the WWF Auditorium, Lodhi Estate, New Delhi in the presence of Valmik Thapar, Ravi Singh -- Secretary General and CEO WWF India, Rajesh Bedi -- wildlife photographer and conservationist and Mike Pandey -- award winning wildlife filmmaker and environmentalist. A tribute to the tigers who have played a vital role as brand ambassadors of Indian wildlife, the book delves into the changing landscape of tiger photography in India, and contains expert opinions by leading nature photographers. A Decade with Tigers is a photographers take on the dramatic rise in the popularity of tigers in the past decade. Powered by social media and an increasing number of photographers interested in documenting the various moods and behaviours of tigers in forests across the country, tigers have been anthropomorphised, with some of them becoming the tiger icons of India. The volume chronicles legendary tiger mothers and male tigers of the past decade, as well as their tales of survival, complemented by exquisite images. Also showcased is the singular diversity of Indian wildlife through spectacular images of the myriad species that share their home with tigers, photographed in terrains ranging from montane forests to the plains of Central India. The book also contains expert opinions by leading nature photographers on the need for creativity and innovation in the photography and portrayal of Indias magnificent national animal. A journalist turned PR professional with experience in corporate communications, Shivang Mehtas love of nature eventually made him leave the cosy comforts of the corporate office for the field. He is now an avid traveller and nature photographer, his love for the forests of Kumaon impelling him to choose Corbett as his main area of work. A Decade with Tigers is published by Niyogi Books and priced at Rs 1,750. Agra, Oct 26 (IBNS): Amid the recent controversy surrounding the mausoleum, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath visited Taj Mahal on Thursday and took part in the cleanliness drive outside the monument along with several other Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders. Adityanath, who had disapproved the comments made by his party leaders regarding the monument, took part in the cleanliness drive outside Taj Mahal. BJP leader Sangeet Som had triggered a controversy by saying that Taj Mahal was built by 'traitors'. Controversy was created recently when Taj Mahal was removed from a Uttar Pradesh tourism booklet. Som even said Taj Mahal was a 'blot on Indian culture'. Later, another BJP lawmaker Vinay Katiyar had said the iconic Indian building is a Hindu temple and should be renamed as "Tejo Mahal". "Taj Mahal is a Hindu temple. There are several symbols of Hindu gods and goddesses in the Taj. It was known as Tejo Mahal," he was quoted as saying to media. He said: "Water used to once drip from its ceiling. That has been removed from there." Away from recent controversies surrounding Taj Mahal, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on last Tuesday said the grand Indian iconic structure was built by blood and sweat of Indian labourers. The chief minister told media: "It does not matter who built it or for which reason, it was built by blood and sweat of Indian labourers." Mughal emperor Shah Jahan had built Taj Mahal in Agra city of Uttar Pradesh. Thousands of tourists from across the globe visit Agra to see this grand Mughal building every year. New Delhi, Oct 26 (IBNS): The husband of late Priya Mehra, who was allegedly shot dead by bike borne assailants on Tuesday night, has admitted to police about carrying out the crime himself, reports said. During interrogation, the husband, identified as Pankaj, revealed that he had originally murdered his wife and later cooked up a story to implicate those who he owed money. He had earlier told police that he was receiving death threats from a money lender who he owed Rs 40 lakh. Pankaj also told police that he committed the crime as he wanted to get back to his ex-wife and thus shot his wife Priya while she was sleeping in the car. Police are yet to recover the weapon Pankaj used to murder his wife. Image:Twitter post New Delhi, Oct 26 (IBNS): K.J. Alphons, Minister of State (I/C) for Tourism, on Thursday, expressed concern about the attack on two Swiss travellers at Fatehpur Sikri in Uttar Pradesh. The couple, identified as Quentin Jeremy Clerc and Marie Droz, were attacked on Sunday. The battering left the male victim with a fractured skull and hearing impairment and his girlfriend with a broken arm. They are currently recuperating in a Delhi hospital. In a letter to Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, the Tourism minister said, I am deeply concerned that two Switzerland citizens were attacked and injured at Fatehpur Sikri yesterday. You would kindly appreciate that such incidents negatively impact our image and are detrimental to our efforts in promoting India as a tourism destination. A fast and speedy response in identifying and ensuring speedy action including conviction of the guilty would be reassuring, as also a good message of our efforts to prevent recurrence of such incidents. Noting the report of the incident in a national daily, earlier on Thursday morning, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, also tweeted "I have just seen this. I have asked for a report from the State Government." Image: twitter.com/KJAlphons Agra, Oct 26 (IBNS): Reacting to the incident where a Swiss couple were attacked in Fatehpur Sikri, Agra, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanth, on Thursday, said strict actions must be taken against those who commit such crimes against tourists. "Police must not hesitate to take action against these people (attackers). It is not only our national responsibility but also moral," Adityanath said. "Tourists are our guests," the chief minister added. Adityanath, who visited Taj Mahal on Thursday amid the controversial remarks made by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders about the monument, said his government is trying hard to improve the transport system in Agra. He said with the improved transport system, the tourism industry will develop more, providing earnings to the youth. However, the chief minister refused to accept any controversy regarding Taj Mahal, which had erupted after his own party colleague Sangeet Som commented that the monument was built by "traitors". Initial controversy was created when Taj Mahal was removed from a Uttar Pradesh tourism booklet. Som even said Taj Mahal was a 'blot on Indian culture'. Later, another BJP lawmaker, Vinay Katiyar, had said the iconic Indian building is a Hindu temple and should be renamed as "Tejo Mahal". "Taj Mahal is a Hindu temple. There are several symbols of Hindu gods and goddesses in the Taj. It was known as Tejo Mahal," he told the media. He said: "Water used to once drip from its ceiling. That has been removed from there." Away from recent controversies surrounding Taj Mahal, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on last Tuesday, said the grand Indian iconic structure was built by blood and sweat of Indian labourers. The chief minister told media: "It does not matter who built it or for which reason, it was built by blood and sweat of Indian labourers." Mughal emperor Shah Jahan had built Taj Mahal in Agra city of Uttar Pradesh. Thousands of tourists from across the globe visit Agra to see this grand Mughal building every year. During his visit to Taj Mahal on Thursday, Adityanath even took part in cleanliness drive outside the monument. Guwahati, Oct 26 (IBNS): After seizing Rs 27.90 lakh from the house of NSCN-K's army chief Niki Sumi's wife in Nagaland's Dimapur, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is likely to issue summons to Shelly Sumi and others in connection with terror funding, officials said. On Oct 24, the sleuths of NIA seized Rs 27.90 lakh, 12 mobile phones, three laptops, a hard disk and several vital documents from the houses of Shelly Sumi, Shutoli, Ekeliato Yeptho and Hozhily at Naharbari basti in Dimapur. Meanwhile, the articles and cash seized by the NIA officials were sent to Imphal and the articles were kept in the custody of relevant court. A top official of the prime investigating agency said that, the seizure articles were produced before the NIA court in Imphal on Wednesday. On April 7 last, 34 Assam Rifles had apprehended Shelly Sumi and three other women along with Rs 18.47 lakh from Karong area in Manipur's Senapati district and a case was registered at Senapati police station. Later they were freed on bail. NSCN-K's army chief Niki Sumi was listed as one of the accused in the attack on Assam Rifles troops at Paraolon in Manipur on June 4, 2015 in which at least 18 security personnel were killed. (Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath) Guwahati, Oct 26 (IBNS): A protest held demanding arrest of culprits of ABMSU leader Lafikul Islam turned violent in Assam's BTAD area as at least 25 people including police personnel were injured during clash between protesters and security personnel in Kokrajhar district on Thursday. According to reports, over 1000 protesters of All BTC Minority Students Union (ABMSU) staged protest and blocked railway tracks in several parts of BTAD demanding the arrest of main culprits who killed ABMSU leader Lafikul Islam on August 1 last. When the protesters shouted against the state government and Assam police for failing to arrest the murderers of Lafikul Islam, security personnel used baton charge and made blank fires on the protesters to restraint the situation. The protesters also pelted stone targeting the security personnel. At least 20 protesters and five police personnel including a RPF inspector were injured during the clash. A top police official of Kokrajhar district said, when the security personnel asked the protesters at Salakati station to leave the area, some protesters pelted stone targeting the security personnel. "To control the situation, security personnel have been forced to resort lathi charge. In the stone attack at least 5 police personnel including a RPF inspector were injured and they were immediately admitted at nearest hospital," the police official said. On the other, at least 20 protesters including several women were injured in police lathicharge and they were also admitted in hospital. An ABMSU leader said that, few women protesters including sister of Lafikul Islam were severely injured in the police act. Lafikul Islam was killed by unidentified gunmen at Titaguri market area in Kokrajhar district on August 1 last and ABMSU demanded to the state government to arrest the main culprits. On the other hand, following the Assam government's request, the Centre on Wednesday handed over the case of the killing of the ABMSU leader to CBI. Earlier Assam government had constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by Assam police IGP Anurag Tankha to probe the killing incident. (Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath) Guwahati, Oct 26 (IBNS): The Centre has approved 464 projects costing Rs 14,124 crore in eight smart cities of North East India including Brahmaputra river front development project in Assamas capital city Guwahati. After reviewing the progress of urban missions in the eight north eastern states in Guwahati on Thursday, Union minister of state for housing and urban affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri said that, the Centre has selected eight smart cities in the region and 464 projects have been approved for these cities so far. 24 of the 464 projects costing of Rs 3,706.05 crore, which have been identified as impactful projects including Brahmaputra river front development project in Guwahati with cost of Rs 826 crore, Ropeway project in Kohima with cost of Rs 409 crore are being taken up expeditiously. Presently 5 projects costing of Rs 95.5 crore are under execution. Ministry of urban development provides an assistance of Rs 500 crore to each smart city over a period of five years, Puri said. The selected smart cities of the NE region are Guwahati (Assam), Imphal (Manipur), Agartala (Tripura), Namchi (Sikkim), Kohima (Nagaland), Passighat (Arunachal Pradesh), Aizawl (Mizoram) and Gangtok (Sikkim). The union minister said that, 12 towns of the region have been included in the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation for Urban Transformation (AMRUT) for providing water taps to all households besides improving water supply to the normative level of 135 litres per capita per day. Under AMRUT, the Centre supports 90 per cent of the project cost in NE states. 12 NE towns included in Amrut are Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh), Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Nagaon and Silchar (Assam), Imphal (Manipur), Shillong (Meghalaya), Aizawl (Mizoram), Dimapur and Kohima (Nagaland), Gangtok (Sikkim) and Agartala (Tripura). The entire state's annual action plan for the NE states envisaging an investment of Rs 1506.62 crore has been approved and work for 43 projects costing of Rs 149.31 crore has commenced and 9 projects costing of Rs 5.93 crore have been completed, the union minister said. Puri further said that, 42 towns in NE states have become Open Defection Free (ODF) and 588 community and public toilets, 20237 individual households toilets have been constructed under the Swach Bharat Mission. 731 wards in the region have facilities for 100 per cent door to door collection of solid waste and 80 per cent wards in Mizoram have adopted it, Puri said. After reviewing the progress of several projects, the union minister has released totaling of Rs 182 crore to the NE states. The minister has released Rs 128.53 crore to Tripura, Rs 22.89 crore to Mizoram, Rs 18.13 crore to Assam, Rs 5.35 crore to Sikkim, Rs 2.98 crore to Nagaland, Rs 2.73 crore to Meghalaya, Rs 1.65 crore to Arunachal Pradesh. (Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath) New York, Oct 26(Just Earth News): On the second day of his visit to the Central African Republic (CAR), United Nations Secretary-General AntAnio Guterres on Wednesday called on the international community to show solidarity in helping the crisis-torn country chart a new future while warning against religious divide. This visit is a visit of solidarity but of active solidarity, said Guterres during a press briefing after meeting with President Faustin Archange Touadera and members of his Government in the nations capital, Bangui. He called for the active engagement of the international community in the country because there is an opportunity to build a new Central African Republic that is peaceful, secure and prosperous. Guterres also reiterated the need to strengthen the UN peacekeeping mission, known for its French acronym MINUSCA, so it can better protect the population. He said a political will of openness is well translated in the recent enlargement of the Government, warning, however, that religious divisions that had not existed before are now seen. They are only the result of political manipulation that must be condemned and avoided at all costs, he told reporters. According to his Spokesman, the Secretary-General and his party then travelled to Bangassou in the southeast of the country. At the local UN force camp, he laid a wreath to honour Moroccan and Cambodian soldiers killed earlier this year in the line of duty as UN forces tried to protect the population. In addressing representatives of the contingents, he told them how proud he was to be one of their colleagues and that their efforts were courageous as they attempted to keep the peace in areas where all too often there is no peace to keep. From there, the Secretary-General went on to the compound of the Catholic church in Bangassou, which is now home to more than 1,200 Muslim residents of the area. They had sought shelter from communal violence earlier this year. Guterres also listened as a 14-year old Muslim girl explained her communitys concerns and wish for reconciliation. The Secretary-General excoriated politicians who use religion to divide communities that often worship the same God, and urged religious leaders to live up to their responsibilities by being apostles for peace. He also met with local authorities and civil society leaders, encouraging them as well with a message of reconciliation. The spokesman said the Secretary-General returned to Bangui, where he is scheduled to meet with the UN humanitarian and development team, as well as with non-governmental organizations later on Wednesday. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe Source: www.justearthnews.com New York, Oct 26(Just Earth News): If Africa is to keep pace with an unprecedented demographic transition a Africanas under-18 population will reach 750 million by 2030 a scaled-up investment in health, education and womenas protection and empowerment will be needed or the continent will face a ableaka future, the United Nations Childrenas Fund (UNICEF) reported Thursday. Investing in health, protection, and education must become an absolute priority for Africa between now and 2030, said Leila Pakkala, UN Children Fund (UNICEF) Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa. According to UNICEFs report Generation 2030 Africa 2.0, some 11 million education and health personnel will be needed to keep pace with the projected unprecedented population growth of children in Africa an increase of 170 million children between now and 2030. We are at the most critical juncture for Africas children, Pakkala underscored. Get it right, and we set the foundation for a demographic dividend, which could lift hundreds of millions out of extreme poverty, and contribute to enhanced prosperity, stability, and peace. The report identifies three key issues for investment: health care, education and the protection and empowerment of women and girls. Concretely, to meet minimum international standards in health care and best practice targets in education, Africa will have to add 5.6 million new health workers and 5.8 million new teachers by 2030. According to the report, almost half of the continents population is under 18 years old and the majority of the population in around one-third of the 55 African Union member States is children. Current projections foresee the number of Africas children topping one billion by 2055. Imagine the potential of one billion children Imagine the potential of one billion children, said Marie-Pierre Poirier, UNICEFs Regional Director for West and Central Africa. If Africa steps up its investments in children and youth now, transforms its education systems and empowers women and girls to participate fully in community, workplace and political life, it will be able to reap faster, deeper and longer dividends from its demographic transition. Conversely, if investments do not occur in Africas youth and children, the once-in-a-generation opportunity of a demographic dividend may be replaced by a demographic disaster, characterized by unemployment and instability. UNICEF recommends three policy actions to create the socio-economic conditions for Africas coming generations. The first is to improve health, social welfare, and protection services to meet international standards; or beyond, in countries close to attaining them. Secondly, it recommends Africa's educational skills and vocational learning system be adapted through curricula reform and access to technology to meet the needs of a twenty-first century labour market. The report also prescribes that Africa secures and ensures the right to protection from violence, exploitation, child marriage and abuse; removes barriers preventing women and girls from participating fully in community, workplace and political life; and enhances access to reproductive health services. Photo: UNICEF/Mony (file) Source: www.justearthnews.com Image: Screengrab from YouTube Los Angeles, Oct 26 (IBNS): Bruce Paddock, the bother of Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock, was arrested by Los Angeles Police for the possession of child pornographic images, reports said. The 58-year-old was arrested from a nursing facility in the 5300 block of Laurel Canyon Boulevard, in the Valley Village neighborhood at around 8 am on Wednesday. Police accused him of having more than 600 pornographic images of children or youth, including at least 10 images of a child younger than 12. According to documents filed in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, 20 criminal charges were pressed against him, pertaining to either possession of child pornography or sexual exploitation of children. LAPD spokesman Josh Rubenstein has stated that the investigation had nothing to do with the Vegas shooting and was done independently. Bruce's brother Stephen killed at least 58 people and injured several hundreds on the night of Oct 1 in Las Vegas. He later killed himself. Bruce had several other criminal records, including annoying a child under 18. He is one of the four brothers. According to LA Times, "Their father, Benjamin Hoskins Paddock, was a convicted bank robber who was once placed on the FBIs Most Wanted list." Image: Screengrab from YouTube IBNS Canada's Suman Das and Asha Bajaj interact with York Regional Police Chief Eric Jolliffe. Excerpts: Chief Jolliffe, you have been active for over 38 years now. If you are to pick the watershed moment of your career what would it be? I have got a few. Actually arresting some body for murder before the murder was discovered. That happened in 1984 just a few years in my job as a police officer. It happens once in a life time that you arrest somebody before the murder was discovered. This rare event caught the attention of the chief of the police of the day and not long after that, he asked me to come and work for him. It was a rare opportunity for me. I would not have been in this position at present if I had not got the chance to work for the Chief of the Police at that time. You have served in a variety of functions including Uniform Patrol, Criminal Investigations, Planning Services, Project Management and Strategic Planning. Which one out of these would you say was the most challenging for you? Why? You missed a few of the roles. For example, I looked after large police districts with 250 folks with different work components, looked after SWAT teams, which is a very operational function. They are all complex and challenging in their own way. In 1986 as a young police officer I was working on my thesis on the growth of this region. I had written a report to be presented to the government that 185 more police officers should be hired in 1987 and 1988. They approved that. As a result of that, this year YRP would be seeing 60 retirements. According to the annual statistical report, the rate of import and exportation of drugs had increased in 2016 from a corresponding period in 2015. Has the percentage dropped this year? I had done some research on these. There has been some increase from 5 percent to 65 percent. The reason we could not focus on this aspect was that the police force -- which has to deal with specifically different issues at a given time was at that time focused on trying to find out from where this drug function actually evolved. There is this burning question that I ask people while traveling if any body knows from where these drugs come from? Right now, we are in the midst of an opioid fentanyl crisis. And I am going to tell you something. It is coming from an organized crime. That is why we spend time at the higher end. In 2015, we had five investigation, in 2016 we had 65 investigation. We have a strong opinion around Marijuana. We have been in the community for a long time and everyday we see what unfolds and we have the best seat the house to see what unfolds. What are the areas that you as a department would like to improve upon? I think as an organization we are pretty strong in the category but I have to read a lot and watch a lot and the conversation around trusting confidence in community. We are constantly trying to improve and ways to connect to community, to display the nature of the police service and the connections that we have so that we can build a front-line delivery model and a role model. According to a reminder on the York regional Police official Twitter handle, it states: "Twitter is not monitored 24/7 and is not a reporting tool. In emergencies call 9-1-1. For non-emergencies call 18668765423." In a day and age when every thing is so web oriented, don't you think you should change too (in terms of using Twitter as a reporting tool)? Interesting question. Technology is changing. I had to do a bit of research on this too. Twitter allows only 120 characters for use which is rather small. We have other options: calling 911, online reporting, crime stoppers and tons of other opportunities. So if one cannot use their phone we make use of the technology. We are moving to enhanced technology called e911 where actually you are able to connect the video or photographs with that event. We encourage citizens to let us know of any incidents that are not right. We want to know about that which can be provided by way of photographs etc. this is very helpful. Dont you think for drug overdoses or drug related crime, involving young communities, shouldn't the government become more active in finding out ways to solve this problem rather than putting the criminals behind the bars? Inactivity of youth is a problem. We have a centre which we call community safety village and we bring kids from junior kindergarten to Grade 5 to have conversations with them around bicycle safety, travel safety helmet safety, water safety, fire safety, internet safety and all kinds of safety concerns. So we are engaging pupils from Junior kindergarten to grade 12 and I would say 99 percent of these opportunities to engage our community are all about encouraging youth to select healthy life style. Next year we would be teaching Grade 5 students all about diversity and inclusion and this has become a new Hate Crime Prevention programming. We need to be thoughtful about how our legislation is designed and how the police services get the time to prepare the police officers for this new changing legislation because if you are not well versed on how things are legally unfolded, you end up creating laws and these case laws can be very damaging in case of fight against impaired driving and drunk driving. So that is why I say : Do it slowly, do it methodically, make sure there are regulations in place, make sure there are training in place so that when we get to this is where we are going that everyone is in a comfortable position. I have a very strong opinion specially around drinking and driving, this police services is very much focused on drinking and driving in York region. Do you think legalization of marijuana is good step? I do not think it is a good thing. Some people call me an old school. I have been in the business for 38 years. I watched things unfold and I do not think it is a good decision go legalize marijuana. It is certainly good for revenue generation. We recently heard from police officers from other regions like Durham Regional Police etc. are involved in illegal activities or even drug dealing. Have you introduced any methods to check these in your police force? We do tremendous amount of work on ethics and behaviour and education around police services act. Folks may not realise that in the police service act chief of police has a very interesting position. You know I am managing 23,00 employees, managing 314 million dollar budget to see that our folks are comfortble and secure but I am also disciplinarian as a dad of YRP. One of my jobs is to make sure that the folks are behaving themselves and I take that role here very seriously. Reputation of our police service is extremely important for me. That is why occasionally people might have noticed that when ever an issue arises, I take action to see things done very quickly and I do not dab around my business. What is a typical day in Chief Eric Jolliffe's life like? There is no typical day. My day usually begins at about 5:30 in the morning and see around 30 emails. Every day is different. Every weekend pretty much is devoted to the communities. I do not have enough time with my family. But when I accepted this job I knew all the challenges and I was prepared for this. I have two older kids and have grand kids and I make sure I squeeze a little time out of my busy schedule to spend with them. As a chief of police you are entrusted for some very important things and trusted to ensure that your community feels safe and secure, trusted that the funding that you are given is spent appropriately. There are all sorts of different expectations of the police chief. With 30 years of experience in police and with your leadership role, are you contemplating to join politics in the near future? I do not know about it. This question has asked by many people. First of all we are seen publicly and we do have our opinions. Our opinions are based on what we see every single day in our community. My predecessor was hugely engaged in community. (Questions compiled by Sudipto Maity) Ottawa, Oct 26 (IBNS): Three Canadian men, who were held and tortured in Syria over the accusation of having links to a terrorist organisation, have received a settlement amount of $31.3 million by Ottawa, media reports said. Abdullah Almalki, Ahmad El Maati and Muayyed Nureddin were accused of having links to al-Qaeda. The three Canadians will now share the sum of money Ottawa has paid them. An investigation, which was carried out in 2008, found the Canadian officials had a role behind the imprisonment and torture of the three men. The investigation and its report somewhat forced Ottawa to pay a compensation or settlement amount to the three men. Amalki was an electronics engineer at the national capital of Canada when he was arrested in 2002 and later spend 22 months behind the bars. The other former accused, El Maati, was a truck driver in Toronto. He was arrested in 2001 over the similar charge with links to terrorism. El Maati was held for 26 months since 2001, who was also transferred to Egypt once. He went to Syria to attend a wedding party but could not return to his own country then. Nureddin, a former geologist, went to Iraq to meet his family and was held by Syrian officials after he crossed the border in December 2003. The Toronto man was held for 34 days in total between late 2003 and early 2004. However, all the three men have denied any links to the terrorist group. All the three men had filed a lawsuit of $100 million against the Canadian government, which was put on hold till the conclusion of the inquiry by the Supreme Court. (Reporting by Suman Das) Fusion Microfinance closes 12% lower on debut After a weak listing, stock of Fusion Microfinance closed Tuesday's session down 11.74% to Rs324.80. According to BSE data, the IPO was subscribed 2.95 times, with qualified institutional... November 15, 2022 | 15-11-2022 4:10 pm Markets see a topsy-turvy day Indian equity markets saw a topsy-turvy day. After starting the day in Green, markets started falling. In the afternoon session, they started rising again. After 3 p.m., in the last one h... November 15, 2022 | 15-11-2022 3:54 pm Healthcare Global posts Rs 7.4 crore profit in September quarter Healthcare Global Enterprises Ltd's revenue in the September quarter increased y-o-y by 19.3% to Rs 4,200 million. Profit after tax, after removing the impact of exceptional items, incre... November 15, 2022 | 15-11-2022 3:41 pm Global Health IPO to list tomorrow The Initial Public Offer of Global Health Limited is all set to list on bourses on Wednesday, November 16, 2022. The price band for IPO has been fixed at Rs 319-336 per share. The company aims ... November 15, 2022 | 15-11-2022 3:40 pm EaseMyTrip launches 2.0 self-booking tool for corporates Easy Trip Planners Limited has announced the launch of a self-booking tool for corporates. With this tool, business travellers and corporates can book their travel with ease as it si... November 15, 2022 | 15-11-2022 2:52 pm Irrfan Khan on changing sexual dynamics, virtues of going indie in Hollywood after a slew of tent-pole films and why playing Sahir Ludhianvi is his dream role. Irrfan Khan always manages to surprise you. His upcoming film, 'Qarib Qarib Singlle', seems like a sunny rom-com on the surface. While admitting that it is in that happy space, the actor said that it also touches on a more significant issue, of how gender dynamics play out in a sexually repressed society. BCCL "When a man from such a society comes close to a woman, he brings along with him plenty of misconceptions and has to be educated on how a woman should be treated on a date. The equations vary from society to society. In a male-dominated one like ours, the woman is the victim," he reasoned. Irrfan believes sexual bliss is the biggest gift of nature and it's inconceivable to him that certain sections of society and the system as a whole should want to condition and dictate relationships, deciding who one should woo and shouldn't. Interestingly, the actor's co-production, the English-Bengali bilingual, 'Doob: No Bed Of Roses', is finally opening in India, US, Canada, Australia and Bangladesh. In this film about love and loss, he plays a character who gets married for a second time to a woman who's years younger and was once his daughter's friend. The subject invited the wrath of conservatives, leading to a ban on its release in Bangladesh which has since lifted. BBCL/KrishnaRoy "Sexuality shouldn't be hidden behind the facade of religion or judged by age. It's not a crime to be in a relationship with an older man or a younger woman. Love is already complicated in today's times, with arranged marriages and joint families that gave a couple plenty of buffers, making way for singular families, and the social media giving both the sexes equal opportunities to mingle. Let's not complicate relationships now with all these diktats," reasons the man, admitting that there's a lot of love brimming inside him which hasn't always been able to find expression in real life, which is why the endless chasing after it on screen. The internationally-acclaimed actor recently wrapped up 'Puzzle with Kelly Macdonald' and admits the intimate, personal film was a refreshing break from the big-budget studio franchises he's been associated with, like 'The Amazing Spider-Man', 'Jurassic World' and 'Inferno'. "It's a beautiful coming-of-age story of a woman, played by the amazingly talented Kelly, that gave me a chance to explore a different aspect as an actor," he said. BCCL Irrfan is equally excited about Ronnie Screwvala's 'Kaarwan' which he has been filming with Malayalam actor Dulquer Salmaan, Mithila Palkar and Amla. "I met Amla for the first time and she's doing some wonderful work. Kerala is God's own country because the state has banned all skyscrapers," he quipped. Meanwhile, Meghna Gulzar's 'Talvar', featuring him as an investigative officer, made a strong case for the Tandons, accused in the murders of their daughter and household help. It was inspired by the 2008 Aarushi Talwar and Hemraj double murders in Noida. Talwars since have been acquitted. Irrfan recalls that what struck him immediately about Vishal Bhardwaj's script was that at a time when the Talwars were being tried by the media, he offered a different perspective to what might have happened that fateful night. Now, he's gung-ho about another Vishal script that will be his assistant Honey Trehan's directorial debut. "I'm waiting for the final script. It's exciting to be teaming up with Deepika Padukone after 'Piku'. I'm also waiting to work with Shoojit Sircar and Anurag Basu again," he said. BCCL/KrishnaRoy In a year of box-office disasters, his comedy-drama Hindi Medium has stood out like a beacon of light and Irrfan admits that producer Dinesh Vijan could be announcing a sequel soon. "I'd be happy to be a part of it. My only condition is that we should not encash on its success but get a plot that is better than the first and will take the franchise forward with an equally relevant issue," he avers, pointing out that while once he had done films to make his presence felt, today he wouldn't want to work for money or to consolidate his position. "The stories should resonate with me." BCCL Has he ever thought of writing his own life story, you wonder, and he admits that there was an offer a few years ago. "But I don't have much to say. To present my own version of my life would be boring for me. If someone were to write about me critically, in a style that is entertaining and engaging, maybe I'll think about it. For now the focus is on acting," he shrugged. When it comes to acting, his dream project remains Sahir Ludhianvi. He believes he understands the poet-lyricist best his passion, genius and sensibilities. "If it's in my destiny I will play him in the biopic. If I don't get the chance, I will bring shades of Sahir into my other roles.," he muses, pointing out that just that morning in the shower, while ruminating on another film, he was wondering why he couldn't recite Sahir's famous lines, "Kabhi kabhi mere dil mein khyaal aataa hai," at the end. "I'm always looking for opportunities and excuses to recite those lines that resonate with the love Sahir believed in, which I believe in," he smiled. Google might be your man Friday when youre looking for a solution or assistance for anything you find a handful to deal with. However, it becomes increasingly tricky to do so when you begin self-diagnosing your symptoms when you get sick. Although an Internet search can lead to an appropriate answer/solution it often leads to anxiety or what is often referred to as cyberchondria; which is defined as the habit of complicating a common symptom. economictimes.indiatimes.com This habit leads you into diagnosing a common symptom like a cold as an ailment as severe as cancer. Once you begin self-diagnosing yourself you begin to agonise over endlessly; essentially making the problem far more severe than it is. According to a report published in The Telegraph, one in four self-diagnose on the Internet instead of visiting the doctor. Despite the fact that the Internet offers great information about the diseases, precautions and treatments, relying solely on the online information can be dangerous. Dr Ravi Gaur, Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Oncquest Labs Pvt. Ltd., says, "Self-diagnosis can be very harmful because there are many disorders which have common symptoms. businessinsider.in At times, self-diagnosis done by Google simply by matching symptoms may conclude that it's a case of the heart attack; however, a more objective analysis by a qualified doctor, that also considers the risk of having a particular condition, might suggest that it's just a case of hiccups. This can lead to serious health issues, adds Gaur. Heres why else using Google and other such Internet search engines for a diagnosis rather than going to the doctor is deadly dangerous: siasat.com -Firstly, the Internet is a mixed bag of resources that may be misleading or baseless. -Secondly, it can lead to unnecessary anxiety, fears, and withdrawal from the fact that s/he is suffering from a disease. -Google often misleads people into skipping visits to the doctor, especially when youre suffering from a serious disorder because a Google search might relate your illness to a different disorder that may not need dire attention. aminoapps.com -A simple hiccup can be easily misdiagnosed as a more serious case of having a heart attack. -Misdiagnosing makes you more vulnerable to psychological syndromes, which may adversely affect your mental health. ruzoo.ru A slight misinterpretation can result in a wrong treatment of the disease that you don't even possess, therefore, it would be the right thing to trust your doctor and do not be an impatient patient!, affirms Gaur. A couple from Lausanne, Switzerland, was chased and attacked with stones and sticks by a group of youths in Fatehpur Sikri on Sunday, leaving them battered and bruised. ANI Quentin Jeremy Clerc, 24, who came to India on September 30 with his girlfriend Marie Droz, also 24, told TOI from his hospital bed in Delhi that they were strolling near the railway station at Fatehpur Sikri after a day in Agra when the group started following them. "They initially passed comments, which we didn't understand, and then forced us to stop so they could take selfies with Marie," he said. The harassment soon turned into an attack so brutal that it left Clerc with a fractured skull and a clot in his brain. Doctors attending on him said a blow that struck one of his ears has caused hearing impairment. Droz has a broken arm and multiple bruises. The couple said as they lay on the ground bloodied and bruised, bystanders began taking videos of them on their mobile phones. Recounting the horror, Clerc said, "The boys wouldn't stop walking along despite our protests. All the while they kept taking pictures and trying to get close to Marie. From whatever little we could understand, they were asking our names and the place where we had put up in Agra. They were harassing us. They asked us to accompany them to some place, which we refused. A little after stones and sticks began to rain on me. When Marie intervened, she, too, wasn't spared." Droz said she first thought the boys "won't hit a woman". She was wrong. "They hurled stones at both of us.I was hit on the back, shoulder and hand. I still cannot understand why they attacked us. They didn't take any of our valuables." She refuted what she called "rumours" and said they were not kissing, something one of the local cops hinted was the reason why the "crowd was instigated". Dr Rajendra Prasad, the neurosurgeon in Delhi who Clerc and Droxz were brought to, said, "The boy had a skull fracture and blood clot in the brain. He was immediately admitted to the ICU. His hearing nerve on the right ear has been affected. The girl broke her left arm in the attack and was operated upon on Tuesday." Circle officer at Achnera (Agra district) Satyam Singh said that the foreigners "weren't interested" in filing any police complaint. Minister of external affairs Sushma Swaraj has asked for a report on the matter. A California surfer Taylor Lane has won a recycled surfboard contest by creating a surfboard using 10,000 cigarette buds! #theroachtail update: After many beach cleanups and volunteers, our top & bottom layer of butts are glued in. Up next we will be adding EPS rail cut offs from local surf shops to give the board more shape and volume. #stayposted #creatorscontest #getoutthereandlearn A post shared by Taylor Lane (@tlanemayne) on Aug 27, 2017 at 3:28pm PDT ALSO Read: Sweden Is Left With No Garbage At All, It's Importing Waste To Run Recycling Plants That's right! Cigarette butts of all the things. In a bid to draw attention to pollution and waste management, Taylor Lane, an industrial designer, who hails from California collected over 10,000 cigarette butts and painstakingly glued them one on to the top and bottom layer to make a sturdy surfboard. Sifting for Turkish Gold. #theroachtail #creatorscontest A post shared by Taylor Lane (@tlanemayne) on Aug 13, 2017 at 11:32am PDT ALSO Read: This NGO Is Recycling 'Mata Ki Chunni' To Make Wedding Dresses For Those Who Can't Afford It "This is the most polluted item picked up on the beach," creator Taylor Lane told the Orange County Register. "And no one thinks twice that you can do anything with it." Lane, 24, from Santa Cruz had the top entry amid an assortment of boards made from potato sacks, used packaging and stuff picked up from Dumpster dives. An Australian entry was made from an old bathroom door. The entries were for the third annual Creators & Innovators Upcycle Contest, hosted by the Vissla surfing gear brand and the nonprofit Surfrider Foundation, reports AP. The early steps of many. #framework #creatorscontest #theroachtail A post shared by Taylor Lane (@tlanemayne) on Aug 9, 2017 at 7:23am PDT A dozen entries were displayed last Friday at the Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano and all the contestants were given three months to create their surfboards. Lane and his friend, Ben Judkins, spent the summer plucking butts from the sand, beach parking lots and local paths in Santa Cruz. The board also uses Styrofoam from fish markets. Now, that's taking creativity to the next level! ALSO Read: Japan's 'Green Newspaper' That Blooms When You Plant It Is A Perfect Lesson In Recycling This something all of us wish while travelling solo, getting an entire aircraft to yourself. Imagine, no cranky babies, no talkative co-passengers, it's blissful beyond words. And one lucky Scottish woman actually got an entire private jet to herself from Glasgow to Crete! No kidding. Karon Grieve from Dunlop in Ayrshire arrived at Glasgow airport for her trip to Heraklion, Crete, on Saturday afternoon, when realized that there were only two other bookings on her Jet2 plane. After the duo failed to show up, Karon got onboard the empty plane and was treated like VIP the whole way. @jet2tweets Amazing flight Glasgow to Heraklion yesterday I was the only passenger. Captain Laura and crew amazing, felt like a VIP all day! pic.twitter.com/q4CEkTf7Az Karon Grieve (@KaronGrieve) 23 October 2017 She was given a free meal and a choice of any seat on the plane, which was, obviously, a window seat with ample legroom! The 57-year-old author paid a modest 46 for the Greek island bound flight that normally seats 189 passengers. I turned up at the check-in desk and was joking with the staff, saying how many people are on this flight? The guy was laughing at me and he said oh come on, guess, Grieve told BBCs Good Morning Scotland programme. She was handed her luggage as soon as the flight touched down. I didnt even have to wait at the dreaded baggage carousel, she told the Telegraph. Now, that's one lucky passenger! Concrete is an oft-used material thats been instrumental in shaping our cities around the world. Its because of this that scientists are constantly trying to improve both its cost efficiency as well as its strength. Now, a group of researchers at MIT have developed a new technique that uses irradiated plastic bottles embedded in a concrete wall to make it up to 20 percent stronger than before. The MIT students were actually looking for a way to reduce the concrete industrys carbon footprint, which is currently 4.5 percent of the worlds carbon dioxide emissions. The idea was to recycle the plastic that accumulates in landfills every year to improve concrete production. How can plastic make concrete more powerful? Until now, research attempting to use plastic in cement has proven to be unsuccessful, consequently weakening the structures theyre used in. However the MIT team, through its analysis, eventually realised that treating the recycled plastic with gamma radiation actually made it stronger. This irradiated plastic was then powdered and mixed in with the cement, making a material 20 percent stronger than what we have now. We have observed that within the parameters of our test program, the higher the irradiated dose, the higher the strength of concrete, so further research is needed to tailor the mixture and optimize the process with irradiation for the most effective results, one of the researchers, Kunal Kupwade-Patil, says. But you dont need to worry, this sort of treatment doesnt make the material radioactive either. The research insists that, despite only 1.5 percent of the concrete mix being this irradiated plastic, it can help significantly mitigate our carbon emissions on a global scale. Not to mention perhaps benefit buildings constructed in Earthquake-prone areas. This is the statement of a seven-member delegation of the Progressive Alliance (PA) and the Party of European Socialists (PES) that have visited Manila this week to assess the situation and to demonstrate solidarity in support for democracy in the Philippines. The delegation was hosted by Akbayan Party, a member of Progressive Alliance. The delegation includes: Konstantin Woinoff (Coordinator, Progressive Alliance), Giacomo Filibeck (Deputy Secretary General, Party of European Socialists), Emilia Toyra (Member of Parliament, Sweden), Thomas O. Melia (Deputy assistant secretary of state for democracy and human rights in the Barack Obama administration), Arne Lietz (Member of European Parliament, S&D Group, SPD), Conny Reuter (Secretary General, SOLIDAR), and Ben Maxfield (Australian Labour Party). The delegation met with political leaders from several parties, leaders of civic organizations and visited communities in Caloocan and Navotas.We, the 7-member human rights mission of Progressive Alliance (PA) and the Party of European Socialists (PES), are extremely alarmed at the mounting number of killings under President Rodrigo Dutertes campaign against illegal drugs.The killings of persons accused, without evidence or trial, of involvement in the drug trade continue unabated even in recent days. Yet the Philippines government continues to deny it to the international community.The government's campaign is marred with gross human rights violations that we fear are encouraged by the President himself in his public speeches. The killings have preyed on the most vulnerable: the youth and the poor.We are equally alarmed at the aggressive efforts being undertaken by government to silence dissent of those who stand bravely against the lawless killings. We vehemently condemn the mounting cases of political persecution of the critics of President Duterte's notorious campaign.The absurd cases against Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros, a vocal critic of Duterte's deadly anti-drugs operations, is just the latest example of the governments systematic silencing of dissent in this country.Such trumped up charges follow similar misogynistic attacks to women critics of the government: from the unjust imprisonment of Senator Leila De Lima, highly regarded legal expert and former justice secretary, on preposterous charges, to the various threats being thrown at the women leaders of both the Supreme Court and the Office of the Ombudsman.The Catholic Church also becomes a subject of persecution, as it stands by the people, especially the poor who are heavily victimized by the rampant killings.If the Philippine government is to remain committed to democracy, it should cease all politically-motivated harassment against the peaceful political opposition.The responsibility falls squarely on President Duterte. If Duterte continues on his bloody campaign against drugs and its aggressive political persecution, he will be responsible in straining trading relationships with the international community, especially in light of the upcoming review of Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP+), a special trading instrument that allows around 6,200 Philippine products to enter the EU duty free. If the human rights standards are not upheld, then there may be consequences in the Philippines inclusion in this special trading instrument of the EU.We therefore reiterate our calls for this government to work for the immediate end of the killings, and to let the UN investigate without compromising conditions. The government must hold accountable police officers guilty of using excessive force in so-called one-time big-time operations and address the drug problem with a human rights lens and health-based approach.We also call on the government to cease its hostile attempts at silencing anyone who dares stand up against the government's drug war. The voice of the people must never be silenced!We, in the Progressive Alliance and the Party of European Socialists, are committed to closely monitor the situation. For democracy and human rights, the international progressive community unites! The Ongoing Coffee Plunge Best Weather Inc. - 1 hour 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 - Tue Nov 15, 4:22PM CST 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 - Tue Nov 15, 4:22PM CST 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 : 822-4 (-0.69%) ZWH23 : 843-0 (-0.59%) ZWPAES.CM : 7.6241 (+1.42%) KEZ22 : 958-6 (-0.44%) KEPAWS.CM : 9.2132 (+0.74%) MWZ22 : 967-0 (-0.72%) Hogs Gain on Tuesday Barchart - Tue Nov 15, 4:22PM CST 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 - Tue Nov 15, 4:22PM CST 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 - Tue Nov 15, 4:22PM CST 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 : 663-4 (-0.49%) ZCPAUS.CM : 6.6694 (+1.57%) ZCH23 : 665-6 (-0.52%) ZCK23 : 665-0 (-0.41%) Soy Rallies on Tuesday Barchart - Tue Nov 15, 4:22PM CST 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 : 1452-4 (-0.33%) ZSPAUS.CM : 14.3095 (+1.37%) ZSH23 : 1457-2 (-0.31%) ZSK23 : 1462-4 (-0.31%) Crude Shakes Off Weak IEA Demand Forecast and Closes Higher on Missile Strikes on Poland Barchart - Tue Nov 15, 4:14PM CST 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 : 86.79 (-0.15%) RBF23 : 2.4753 (+0.04%) Burma Lower House to Debate Social Media Surveillance A Facebook user in Myanmar. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy NAYPYITAW Lower House lawmakers will debate whether to monitor social mediaparticularly Facebookand step up Internet surveillance after a motion passed on Wednesday to discuss the issue. National League for Democracy (NLD) MP of Magwe Regions Gangaw Township Daw Yin Min Hlaing urged the government to monitor online activity, saying that irresponsible use of the Internet can disrupt law and order and corrupt morals. While the use of social media has increased a lot, [fabricated] reports that disrupt the stability of the state and morals of citizens are spread far and wide on social media. They have caused disruption and also negatively affect the current government, she told reporters after the parliament session. She said fabricated reports along with religious and racial hate speech on social media have earned Myanmar a negative image on the international stage. MP Daw Khin Moh Moh Aung of Latha Township seconded her proposal, saying that egocentric power maniacs are deliberately disrupting the transition of government and State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi by exploiting racial and religious issues and inciting emotions through the social media. A group of people are abusing social media to create misunderstanding between important stakeholders of the country and delay the national reconciliation process. So I support monitoring, said Daw Khin Moh Moh Aung. While the countrys democracy is still in its nascent stage, some people will easily sway citizens with low political awareness, which can pose a threat to the country, she argued. Myanmar Media Council secretary U Thiha Saw said views differ among governments on the control of social media, citing the Chinese government as an example of a state that aims for complete control of social media, while it is unrestricted in most other governments. He suggested educating netizens to become intelligent users rather than controlling social media would be better. Will a total ban be imposed or a tax be levied as people are saying? If tax is imposed, few people will use social media, he said. What is important is to use it beneficially. There may also be netizens who use it irresponsibly, he added. According to the proposal, users will have to register their Facebook accounts and it will make it easier to identify those who abuse, said U Tin Maung Win, chairman of Lower House Communications and Transportation Committee. He said his committee has not yet received any suggestion about levying tax on Facebook users. Fellow Asean members and other countries strictly monitor the identity of social media users, but Myanmar has not even been able to register all of its SIM card subscribers, Daw Yin Min Hlaing told the parliament. U Ye Myat Thu, an IT expert in Mandalay, said: You cant control social media like that. What you have to control is the behaviors of the people. Behaviors are influenced by how you grow up and what you are taught at school. It is to be controlled by the community. It is nothing to do with social media. If it is banned, people who swear will find another platform to swear. Facebook is the most popular social media platform among Myanmars netizens and according to Internet World Stats, there are 11 million Facebook users in Myanmar as of June, 2017. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko. Burma Police Open Cases After Fake Reports of Buddhist Academy Gun Haul Sitagu International Buddhist Academy in Yangon seen at opening ceremony in 2011. / The Irrawaddy YANGON A Yangon police station has opened cases under Myanmars telecoms law against four unidentified Facebook users who allegedly spread false reports that police raided a well-known Buddhist academy and found firearms. Stories circulated on Facebook on Oct. 23 said weapons and ammunition were discovered at Sitagu International Buddhist Academys Yangon campus in North Dagon Township. The stories also claimed the academys leading monks were detained for interrogation and urged the public to report suspicious monasteries. The reports were widely shared, with many users quick to dismiss the news as fake. The academyrespected in Myanmar and abroad as a hub for Theravada Buddhismreported the stories to North Dagon Township Police Station, complaining they were defamatory and damaged the image of the academy. The stations police chief Than Zaw Min told The Irrawaddy they opened cases against four Facebook users under Article 66(d) of Myanmars Telecommunications Law on Tuesday. Police are still identifying the accounts owners, he added. The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture released a statement on Tuesday saying the reports were spread with the intention to incite racial and religious conflict in the country. An account named Faisal Thar Thakhin first posted the news on Monday and Myanmar News page also posted it, the ministry stated. Article 66(d) carries a maximum prison sentence of up to two years for extorting, coercing, restraining wrongfully, defaming, disturbing any person using a telecommunications network. Burma Rakhine Border Trade Running Again, Says Commerce Chairman The entrance of Maungdaw border trade Gate No. 1. / The Irrawaddy YANGON Border trade in northern Rakhine States Maungdaw Township has resumed, as the region has stabilized, according to the Maungdaw Border Trade Chamber of Commerce. The chambers chairman U Aung Myint Thein said trade stopped when the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) staged an early morning offensive on 30 police outposts in the district on August 25 although authorities did not officially announce the suspension of trade between Bangladesh and Myanmar. In response, the Myanmar Army launched clearance operations against ARSA in the region that forced at least 600,000 Muslims to flee for Bangladesh. International rights groups and Muslim villagers accused members of the security forces of committing arson, killings and rape. The violence halted to the Bangladesh border many exports such as ginger roots, dried fish and rice. Arakanese businessman U Aung Thein said the majority of traders goods, including his own, perished in storage over the past two months. U Aung Thein planned to export nearly 20 boats filled with ginger roots to Bangladesh before conflict in Maungdaw erupted in August. The fresh ginger is already dry as we have kept it for a couple months and [a recent Islamic festival] is over now, said U Aung Thein. While the demand for fresh ginger is low, said U Aung Thein, demand for rice and dried fish is very high because of the sheer number of self-identifying Rohingya refugeesknown locally as Bengali by manysheltering in Bangladeshs Teknaf district. U Aung Thein explained that a 50-kilogram bag of low-grade rice bag costs about 25,000 kyats in Maungdaw and about 32,000 kyats in a Bangladeshi market. Muslim trader U Anowar, owner of Shwe Mya Ratanar Enterprise, who lives in downtown Maungdaw told The Irrawaddy over the phone on Thursday that the situation there has calmed and some businesspeople began trading again in mid-October. However, he said, most of the Muslim merchants have hesitated to do business, including himself, from fear of them or their families becoming a casualty in the troubles. People are worrying about conflict as much unverified information is circulating in the community. So they just briefly go shopping and then return home, he said. Authorities have allowed shopsmany run by Muslimsto open in municipal markets, he said, but only a handful of people sell goods for a couple of hours in the morning and shops close before the afternoon. The citys roads are not crowded in the daytime like they were before the conflict, he said, adding, not many people go outside. According to sources, security in downtown Maungdaw has tightened and more police checkpoints between Muslim and Arakanese quarters and village entrances have been deployed. Security forces ask people trying to enter downtown for national verification cards or official documents and check every package being brought in. The Irrawaddy contacted the commerce office in Maungdaw to gauge the volume of border trade but there was no answer on Thursday. Rakhine State government has been developing on the outskirts of Maungdaw the Kanyin Chaung border trade zone, a project estimated to cost about 2 billion kyats (US$1.5 million) altogether. The project was begun under the Thein Sein administration and Rakhine State chief minister Nyi Pu, who was appointed by the National League for Democracy government, has earmarked 1.5 billions kyats of its 2017-18 fiscal year budget in order to complete construction. According to government statistics, three foreign companies and 136 local companies are operating in the Maungdaw area, where trade this year is expected to reach US$6 million, with $5 million already reached by September. Thursday, Oct 26th, 2017 (5:39 pm) - Score 6,706 Openreachs (BT) Chairman, Mike McTighe, has told the Broadband World Forum that we are getting to the point where the copper will run out of steam and theres a need to focus on full fibre (FTTP/H), but he warned that this could only be done with ISP support and increases in wholesale pricing. Openreach is currently in the process of rolling out their Gigabit capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) based broadband network to 2 million premises by 2020, while the majority of their other deployments remain dominated by much cheaper hybrid fibre / copper solutions like FTTC and G.fast (both are quick to deploy but remain much slower and less reliable than a full fibre network). Since the summer Openreach has been consulting upon an aspiration to conduct a large-scale deployment of FTTP (here), possibly to 10 million premises by around 2025, which they say could cost 300-600 per premises passed (total of between 3bn to 6bn); plus 175 200 to connect. Deploying to 20 million would cost more than double as costs increase disproportionately when coverage is extended into harder areas. However Openreach has made no secret of the fact that they cant do this alone and to that end theyve been examining different models (e.g. co-investment with ISPs), as well as calling for a softer regulatory regime. On top of that theyd probably need to retire their copper network in tandem with the new FTTP one going live, which is necessary in order to keep costs under control. All of these points have once again been made at the BWF. Mike McTighe, Openreach Chairman, said (UBB2020): It is imperative that we dont end up trying to manage and run two networks. We need the ability to switch off the copper network and in support of that we are going to need modest increases in wholesale pricing of services to retail service providers. Openreach wants to build and deploy a full fibre network for the UK but it will take a long time and we have to get started. We need the industry to get behind this and figure out collectively how to make it happen, and we need the government and Ofcom to play their part if we are to come up with a compelling investment case that we can take to shareholders. We cannot do this on our own. McTighe also called upon the industrys ISPs (likely targets being TalkTalk, Sky Broadband and Vodafone) to stop bickering about broadband and support their proposals. But such sharp words are unlikely to sooth over years of built-up distrust and scepticism about the operators motives, forged as they were through years of competitive disputes. On top of that Openreach also faces a regulator that often seems fixated on maintaining lower pricing and competition through hard regulation (the Government has cautioned Ofcom about this). Unpicking years of complex rules around copper lines will be no easy task and theres plenty of scope for the odd legal challenge, unless the industry can find a more productive way forward. Suffice to say that, with so many different viewpoints and competing interests involved, its hard to see how any of this will result in a neat agreement that everybody can agree on. In the meantime Openreach have told ISPreview.co.uk to expect an update on their FTTP consultation when BT publishes their Q2 results next week. Local data analytics and marketing services company Skyfii has secured a five-year contract with an Italian supermarket chain. Skyfii provides cloud services that take advantage of existing Wi-Fi networks, Bluetooth beacons and other technologies to allow venues to analyse the behaviour of anonymous visitors and collect data from those who choose to take advantage of the venue's Wi-Fi service. The company has signed a five-year contract with a leading (but undisclosed) Italian supermarket chain covering 285 stores throughout Italy. Italy's large supermarket chains include Conad, Coop Italia, Crai and Sisa. The deal was won in conjunction with distributor Telcomms and value-added partner, Tecnosistemi. Our deployment of data analytics services with this leading Italian supermarket brand is another milestone in the IO platforms continuing success within overseas markets," said Skyfii chief executive Wayne Arthur. "Skyfiis appointment as the chains new analytics solution provider gives credence to our position as a market leading service provider. If you want to sound and also be pretty fly for an audio-loving gal or guy, then you may wish to listen out for Audiofly's new three-tiered wireless Bluetooth headphone range, from $59.99 to $189. It's not often you hear of top notch Aussie technology brands any more, but rest assured they're still out there! A prime example is Audiofly, Australias home-grown headphone brand, which has just announced the launch of its "three-tiered wireless Bluetooth headphones range, with options starting at $59.99 through to $189". The locally designed and engineered new range is said to embrace "Audioflys history in professional music" while delivering "the perfect answer for everyday music-loving Australians on-the-go, whether they are traveling around the block or around the world". So, who is the new range designed for? 1. We're told the first new model, the AF33W, has been "designed with the busy music-lover in mind", and is "ideal for hassle-free listening without having to compromise on sound quality". Priced at a nice $59.99, it comes "packed with specs that will appeal to anyone looking for great sound quality in a tidy and compact set". You're looking at Bluetooth 4.2, a lightweight and durable design and sweat resistance, making it "perfect for anyone that likes to workout while listening to their favourite content". 2. Next up is the new AF56W, aimed as a "crowd-pleaser with astonishing clarity and range". It proudly boasts Audioflys "largest 13mm dynamic driver for a solid full-frequency response". Obviously, you get "hassle-free wireless Bluetooth technology", backed up by an "evenly balanced, lightweight design", ensuring it is "built for life on the go", and priced at $139. 3. Rounding out the new range is the AF100W, for $189, yet "built for performance with all the makings of a studio level monitor". It comes "a thumping dual membrane micro driver with wireless Bluetooth technology and a secure housing based on the design of Audioflys stage performing in-ear monitors". With "rich studio-quality sound and a lightweight, sweat-resistant design", Audiofly confidently exclaims its AF100W "delivers the ultimate experience for those on the move". So, what else sets Audiofly's new product apart from competitors? Well, all three products are "equipped with a microphone and volume control for calls and smart device functionality and up to five hours battery life (with a 1-hr charging time)". In addition, the AF56W and the AF100W "both feature Audioflys signature Audioflex cable braided with CORDURA fibre technology, helping with tangle resistance and adding market leading strength and durability to the headphones". As you can expect, especially for an Australia company seeking sales success on a global scale, this latest range is naturally "an important release for the Perth-based company". Founded in 2012, Audiofly explains its heritage "is in designing pro-musician stage and recording headphones with multi-driver technology", so this range is special in that it marks "the first time Audiofly headphones have gone wireless for everyday music lovers on the go". Matt Rowett, Audiofly's sales manager, said: "While Audiofly first set out to provide professional musicians with a superior listening experience, we felt that the passion we have for music should not be limited to musicians alone. "As a result, we deliberately set out to design headphones that harness the same technology and soundstage, but have built this into a range that allows music lovers everywhere a chance to enjoy the same high-quality experience. We are unapologetic about our total passion and love for music and our desire to bridge the gap between musicians and lovers of music through our headphones. Product specs and pricing: AF33W RRP $59.99 9mm dynamic driver Lightweight and durable design Sweat Resistant Bluetooth v4.2 Available in 2 colour options white with rose gold and black with charcoal Charge time: 1hr Battery Time: 3.5hrs Standby Time: 200hrs AF56W RRP $139 Bluetooth v4.1 with aptX Audio Streaming 13mm Dynamic Driver Robust stainless steel housing for extra durability Audioflex braided cable featuring CORDURA fibre technology Sweat Resistant Up to 5 hours of playback Charge time: 1 hour Battery Time: 5hrs Standby Time: 200hrs AF100W RRP $189 Technology goods retailer MSY has been fined three-quarters of a million dollars by the Federal Court in a case filed by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission over its not properly informing consumers about their rights to warranties on faulty products. MSY operates under the names MSY Technology, MSY Group and M.S.Y. Technology in Australia and has 28 retail stores across the country selling computer parts, computers, accessories and software. The company confessed that it had made false or misleading statements on its website and in oral or written communications to consumers. MSY had misrepresented consumers rights to a repair, replacement, or a refund where a product developed a fault. Businesses must ensure their refund and returns policies, and any representations accurately reflect their obligations under consumer law, ACCC deputy chair Delia Rickard said. These proceedings and the penalties imposed signal to businesses that the ACCC will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action where it identifies misleading representations about consumers rights. This is the second time the ACCC has taken action against MSY entities. The court imposed penalties in 2011 for misleading consumer warranty representations. In the 2011 case, MSY had to pay $203,500 for false and misleading warranty information. Bermuda law firm Appleby is bracing for an expose similar to the Panama Papers case, after receiving inquiries from the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists about a data breach that occurred last year. The ICIJ is the same organisation that was behind the Panama Papers stories which were based on a massive leak of data from the law firm Mossack Fonseca which is based in Panama. Appleby is an offshore firm with about 470 staff, including 60 partners, operating from 10 offices around the globe. Of itself, the firm says: "We advise global public and private companies, financial institutions, and high net worth individuals, working with them and their advisers to achieve practical solutions, whether in a single location or across multiple jurisdictions." The Panama Papers stories have led torecently of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. A total of 11.5 million documents were leaked detailing financial and attorney-client information for more than 214,488 offshore entities. In a statement, Appleby said the inquiries from the ICIJ had arisen "from documents that journalists claim to have seen and involve allegations made against our business and the business conducted by some of our clients". Buried in the statement was the confession that the company suffered a data breach in 2016. "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," Appleby wrote. "These arrangements were reviewed and tested by a leading IT Forensics team and we are confident that our data integrity is secure." American security firm McAfee has said it will no longer allow source code reviews by foreign governments, becoming the second US security firm to make such an announcement this month. Reuters reported that the McAfee move came as experts warned that the practice could be used by other countries to carry out attacks. Symantec made a similar announcement in the second week of October. In June, a report said that McAfee was among several Western companies that had allowed Russia to inspect its source code as it strove to improve sales in the country. Earlier this month, as iTWire reported, HPE was revealed to have allowed the inspection of the source code for ArcSight which is now owned by British mainframe company Micro Focus because it wanted to sell the product in Russia. Prior to that, Microsoft, had to allow China tothe source code of Windows, a process that took two years, before it was allowed to craft a product Windows 10 China Government Edition that could be sold to the Chinese public sector. Reuters quoted a McAfee spokesperson as saying: The new McAfee has defined all its own new processes, reflecting business, competitive and threat landscapes unique to our space. This decision is a result of this transition effort. McAfee stopped the practice of allowing source code reviews after it was spun off recently as an independent entity, after being an integral part of Intel. Russian security firm Kaspersky Lab has been under the gun in the US, with its products banned from being used by the public sector despite offering its source code for inspection by independent third parties. Google's much-trumpeted Play Protect system, which is supposed to guard against malware in its Play store and on Android devices, has fared poorly in its first test. Germany security firm A-V Test ran tests on 21 mobile security products for Android last month, checking them for the ability to detect 3016 samples of Android malware in real-time. The products were also tested for their ability to detect the latest Android malware of the previous four weeks, with 2917 samples used for the test. Google's Play Protect fared the worst, being able to detect 65.8% of malware in real-time and 79.2% of malware in the previous four weeks. Practically all the other products recorded results above the 90% mark, with many achieving a perfect score. When Google launched Play Protect in May, it hyped the product with headlines like "The security system that never sleeps", "One less worry for over a billion users", and "Surf on the safe side". The company boasted: "Google Play Protect continuously works to keep your device, data and apps safe. It actively scans your device and is constantly improving to make sure that you have the latest in mobile security. Your device is automatically scanned around the clock to give you peace of mind." But judging from the tests done by A-V Test, any one of the other 20 tested products will do a better job than Play Protect. Among the other 20 were products from 360 Mobile Security, Ahnlab, Alibaba, Antiy, Avast, Bitdefender, Cheetah Mobile, ESET, Kaspersky, F-Secure, Norton, Sophos and Trend Micro to name some. A-V-Test has been running these checks since January 2013. Play Protect also lacked important security features such as a call blocker, message filter, safe browsing, parental control, back-up, and encryption. Other products offered at least some of these features. ESET, for example, offered a call blocker, message filter and safe browsing, plus a security audit. Trend Micro offered a call blocker, message filter, safe browsing, and parental control plus a privacy scanner, messenger protection and network protection. Another product, from GData offered encryption as well, apart from many of the features cited above. Zettagrid Virtual Data Centre (VDC) is a unique offering which gives you the ability to manage all your VMware VMs from a single simple portal. Other solutions give you the ability to manage groups of VMs in Virtual Protection Groups (VPGs) but only Zettagrids VDC gives you the ability to manage all your VMs from a single portal whether they are in multiple VPGs or standalone. The simple efficiency of a single portal is not the only reason Zettagrids VDC is the obvious choice for anyone managing multiple VMs. There are a number of other benefits the Zettagrid VDC solution has to offer and here are the top five. 1. Build your VM the way you want it Unlike other cloud providers Zettagrids VDC allows you to customise your virtual servers to almost any size using a variable configuration. You have the freedom to choose your servers vCPU, memory, storage, network, licensing and location so you can configure your VM to your exact requirements. You no longer need to settle for VMs with more memory and storage than you absolutely need making this a particularly cost-effective and efficient VM solution. 2. Predictable billing Other cloud providers bill you on resource usage based on IOPs, Reads/Writes, PUTs and GETs and other similar granular measures. With Zettagrids VDC you get a fixed monthly fee so you know exactly what your bill will be at the end of each month. This consistent billing experience will ensure you receive no more nasty surprises when your VM sends and receives more traffic or processes more data than you budgeted for. 3. Local data and local support without compromising on redundancy Zettagrids VDC keeps your data in Australia so you no longer need to worry about data sovereignty issues that always accompany any decision involving your data and the cloud. Even though all the data is resident in Australia, Zettagrids VDC boasts a geo-diverse redundant architecture with fully independent zones in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. This means your data is safe in the event of a local failure in one or even two of the Zettagrid VDC data centres. 4. Try before you buy A 30-day trial gives you the opportunity to experience Zettagrids VDC at no cost. You can sign-up and experience the easy to use interface, the performance of the Zettagrid VDC VMs and the freedom of configuring your VMs as you see fit. Furthermore, there are no contracts so should you sign up for this service you are never locked in by a contract and can leave at any time. This feature illustrates the belief Zettagrid has in their VDC and other cloud offerings. 5. Backups and Replication options to protect you The Zettagrid VDC solution comes with a range of backup and replication options which ensure your data is protected in the event of a data loss event. In the event of a hardware failure at a local node your VM or VMs will automatically restart on a new node without any user intervention ensuring your VM and critical applications stay up and available. Conclusion Zettagrids VDC is a unique cloud offering that gives you agility, flexibility and simplicity while ensuring no compromise on features and quality. Discover how your business can benefit with a Virtual Data Centre (VDC) powered by VMware. Aeon Technology Services (Aeontech) is at the forefront of a revolution which has begun to transform the data storage hardware industry. With offices across Australia, Aeontech is the recognised leader in IT asset disposal. Aeontech wipes and sanitises over 50,000 hard drives and recycles 500,000 kg of IT equipment each year. Over 99 per cent is diverted from landfill. Aeontech has achieved substantial improvements by installing ioFABRIC, whose data management software solves storage challenges while reducing complexity and optimising costs. Storage hardware vendors will hate ioFABRIC as it eliminates storage silos, vendor lock-in and four-year refresh cycles, says Shan Patterson, Aeontech CEO. I cant wait to observe the storage vendors FUD (Fear Uncertainly and Doubt) as they try to justify why you need expensive proprietary hardware and why you need to replace perfectly good working storage every four or so years with new expensive storage that ultimately creates storage silos. Now compare that to what ioFABRIC delivers. Well, it is just amazing! Prior to ioFABRIC, Aeontech was struggling with multiple storage challenges. Each storage vendor locked the company into its platform or storage silo. Every four years they insisted that Aeontech needed to upgrade its storage. Enough was enough, said Shan. We knew our storage wasnt going to fail in four years and one day, but the vendors charged a premium for maintenance after the initial four-year period. It became unviable to keep older storage products. Data transformation Shan recalls that Aeontech was struggling with its storage before the ioFABRIC data transformation. He says that ioFABRIC immediately enabled the company to eliminate cost and complexity from its storage environment while delivering incredible application performance improvements without specialist or dedicated hardware. We didnt need to make changes to any applications or the way users access data it is all behind the scenes working at the block level, not the file level, which makes it exceptionally efficient. Traditional challenges For years, storage has been an enormous and expensive challenge. Traditional SAN and NAS vendors storage products were developed for physical servers and simply cannot, and do not, deliver the performance, reliability and scalability required by the new enterprise. Today, data needs to be always-on and always available - downtime is the enemy of business. Aeontech deployed an ioFABRIC pilot via phone and a screen-sharing session from ioFABRICs Sydney office. Within two hours it had created a single storage pool from all the companys disparate storage vendors, non-intrusively absorbed data and enabled Aeontech to tier data from one storage vendors equipment to another. IT staff then tested ioFABRICs ability to tier data vertically for performance and were amazed to watch an applications hot (active) data moving to RAM or fast flash/SSD. With ioFABRIC, warm data flows to standard flash/SSDs, then when it ages or becomes inactive, it is automatically moved to slower spinning disks or the cloud. Essentially the data manages itself across any storage vendor. Performance By adding a few commodity high performance flash/SSD for about $1,000 per TB, Aeontech improved performance significantly across its entire storage environment. We were amazed that ioFABRIC was able to share RAM and flash/SSD across different hosts. Now spare capacity of RAM or flash/SSD on one host is accessible and available to an application on a different host amazing! said Shan Patterson. Previously when we added RAM to a host it was locked to that host. We often found lots of valuable RAM sitting idle for many hours a day. With ioFABRIC, all RAM on all our servers can be used 24 hours a day to drive incredible performance for our business the best way to describe ioFABRIC is that it delivers time sharing for all storage, regardless of storage vendor, make or model. Innovate to drive business agility Shan said that like many companies, his IT budget is tight. Aeontech needed to look for innovative solutions to traditional / old problems. Physical storage in a virtual world simply doesnt work. He said: I think everyone would agree that storage is stuck in the dark ages. Even new products are really the same old products just rebranded and made easier to use. Almost all storage products still lock customers into their hardware, creating new storage silos and requiring hardware refreshes every three to four years. Shan added: We tired of hearing that you need this storage silo/vendor for tier 1 applications and that storage platform for tier 2 applications. All we wanted and needed, was to have all super-hot data sitting in RAM for super-fast processing. We wanted hot and warm data migrated to fast flash/SSDs, while inactive data could stay on slow spinning disks or in the cloud (AWS or Azure). ioFABRIC does all this regardless of storage vendor, make or model! We are very impressed. ioFABRIC tiers data up and down for performance and horizontally for incredible resilience, redundancy and reliability. If you want always-on, always available and always fast data, you need ioFABRIC. Aeontech is proud of its ability to help all organisations to reduce their carbon footprint and be environmentally friendly when disposing of old or obsolete IT equipment. Aeontech also supplies professional and implementation services for vendors and their resellers. Keen to streamline operations and take advantage of new market opportunities, many organisations are undertaking digital transformation strategies. With the advent of low-code, empowered business users, also known as citizen developers, are finding they can achieve the best results by taking a 'do-it-yourself' approach to deployments. Traditionally, such transformation efforts have been the exclusive domain of an organisation's IT department. Custodian of everything from servers and networks to applications and core processes, the department has been the one-stop-shop for anyone looking for new apps or updated capabilities. As the pace of digital transformation increases, however, this situation is changing. Organisations are looking for faster ways to put in place the systems needed to support new initiatives and drive future growth. This need for greater speed is occurring in three key areas: improving the customer experience, optimising operations, and delivering innovative new products and services. A faster, more flexible way to create supporting applications is critical in each of these areas. The changing face of app development A key component in any digital transformation project is the development of new supporting applications. They might be needed to automate a workflow, link disparate data stores, or provide a new channel to market. In the past, such apps would be created by a team of software developers within an organisation's IT department. After receiving a comprehensive brief from the business, the team would diligently design, code, and test the new app before its deployment. Faced with a need for more rapid development, growing numbers of organisations are opting for a different approach. Rather than relying on the IT department, they are putting the task of app development into the hands of the end users themselves. It's a trend that's quickly gaining ground as organisations come to understand the benefits on offer. Apps that might have taken many months to move from concept to creation can now be completed in hours or even minutes. As a result, an organisation can quickly position itself to take advantage of new opportunities or counter emerging competitors. The TIBCO approach To support the demand for low-code app development by citizen developers, TIBCO has rolled out TIBCO Cloud Live Apps. This cloud-based platform allows users with little or no previous IT experience to quickly design and deploy powerful apps that can support their business objectives. Live Apps offers an intuitive, visual interface that empowers users to quickly build, update and share apps, and connect them with existing applications and processes. A five-step interview is all it takes to create fully functional applications. Users can jump right in, easily and naturally and start solving real business problems quickly and on their own. Live Apps offers a range of advantages to end users keen to get their apps operational as quickly as possible, including: Simple visual integration: Live Apps interoperates with both TIBCO and other third-party systems whether on cloud or on premise. The platform allows a user to turn an idea into an app in just minutes by linking existing resources in different ways. Secure and reliable connections to on-premise, cloud, or hybrid systems are achieved with just a few mouse clicks. As a result, processes can be created that quickly unlock data and bring it to life in a business context. Live Apps interoperates with both TIBCO and other third-party systems whether on cloud or on premise. The platform allows a user to turn an idea into an app in just minutes by linking existing resources in different ways. Secure and reliable connections to on-premise, cloud, or hybrid systems are achieved with just a few mouse clicks. As a result, processes can be created that quickly unlock data and bring it to life in a business context. Ease of use: Being easy to use is a core advantage of Live Apps, as it enables users with no prior experience to quickly create their own apps. Development is supported by a series of visual representations of all the components that are required for the app to function, including data stores, processes, and applications on cloud or on premises. Live Apps offers simple drag-and-drop interactions and guides users through the process via a system of easy-to-follow wizards. Rather than having to create lines of code, a user can instead visually configure their application. Along with making the process much easier, removing the need to code also reduces errors and improves final functionality. The data and case-centric design of Live Apps lets a user quickly capture actions, process goals, and underlying data incrementally and quickly perform independent updates. It's a safe environment to ideate, try, and test which makes innovation simple. Being easy to use is a core advantage of Live Apps, as it enables users with no prior experience to quickly create their own apps. Development is supported by a series of visual representations of all the components that are required for the app to function, including data stores, processes, and applications on cloud or on premises. Live Apps offers simple drag-and-drop interactions and guides users through the process via a system of easy-to-follow wizards. Rather than having to create lines of code, a user can instead visually configure their application. Along with making the process much easier, removing the need to code also reduces errors and improves final functionality. The data and case-centric design of Live Apps lets a user quickly capture actions, process goals, and underlying data incrementally and quickly perform independent updates. It's a safe environment to ideate, try, and test which makes innovation simple. Enterprise grade: Live Apps is also an enterprise-grade platform that includes all the necessary capabilities to scale-large deployments. Security certifications, role-based access, and authenticated application deployment are just a few examples of its built-in security features. The platform is also designed with a strong focus on scalability and performance. As a result, apps created though using the platform can play a critical role in an organisation's ongoing growth. By embracing the power and simplicity of Live Apps, organisations can achieve the aims of their business strategy much more readily than has traditionally been possible. Armed with the power to undertake their own development, users will be able to take advantage of new opportunities as soon as they appear. The true promise of digital transformation can be realised. Australian battery company Redflow has started installing battery production equipment at its new factory in Thailand as it prepares to commence operations by the end of this year. The Brisbane-headquartered, ASX-listed Redflow, through its Thai subsidiary, has signed a three-year lease on the 1500-square-metre building at the Hemaraj Chonburi Industrial Estate, part of the IEAT free trade zone, 110km southeast of Bangkok and 25km from the Laem Chabang deep sea container port. Redflow (ASX:RFX) chief executive Richard Aird recently visited Thailand to finalise the lease agreement with David Nadone, chief executive and president of Hemaraj Land and Development Public, a subsidiary of WHA Corporation. The company says it has obtained all required Thai regulatory approvals to operate its factory within the free trade zone, and this week has sent an engineering team from its Brisbane office to Thailand to assist its manufacturing partner MPTS with installing and commissioning the equipment. Redflow, which counts serial entrepreneur Simon Hackett as its largest shareholder, manufactures the worlds smallest zinc-bromine flow batteries, marketing them as ZBM2 batteries for commercial, industrial, telecommunications and grid-scale energy storage, and as ZCell for residential energy storage in Australia. Australia is the least likely among 12 countries and Hong Kong to believe in having a culture of innovation within its businesses, a survey on digital transformation claims. Fujitsu's survey also found that about a third (29%) of digital transformation projects in Australia were only at the proof-of-concept stage, with only Ireland and Hong Kong having more in the developmental stage. Australian digital transformation initiatives were strongly influenced by academics and research institutes with 11% of the respondents in the survey saying that such parties had a key role in shaping their responses. The survey questioned a total of 1625 business decision-makers from the US (150 decision-makers), the UK (150), China (150), Singapore (50), Ireland (20), Japan (150), Australia (153), Spain (151), Italy (150), Germany (151), Finland and Sweden (150 together) and Hong Kong (50). The size of the organisations represented varied but all had more than 50 employees and had either begun a digital transformation project or expressed an interest in doing so. The survey was carried out between July and August. Digital transformation was considered under four categories: people, actions, collaboration and technology. In Australia, actions were seen as the most important driver of transformation. New ideas were valued with 47% saying that digital transformation was being used to create new business functions and processes. China was well ahead of the others in most areas, with 59% of the respondents saying they had completed digital transformation projects to the point where results were evident. Thirty-nine percent expected to see results in the first six months, more than double any other country or region. Thirty-five percent of those questioned in China had seen a project fail in the last two years and 40% had cancelled one that did not meet expected standards. However, 76% said that failing projects had been refocused and because of this losses were only half that seen in the other countries surveyed. But still 47% said that a fear of failure was getting in the way of embarking on digital transformation. More than 80% of the Chinese companies covered were training existing staff, with nearly all agreeing that upskilling staff would be a vital factor in success. The firms also had no problem about importing expertise with 74% in the business of co-creation with tech experts (79%) being the leading choice of partner. In the US, the process of transformation laid most emphasis on people, with 45% saying efforts towards this end depended on the type of leaders they had. Given this, US organisations were focused on targeted recruitment (52%) and expertise networks (49%) to increase their digital talent. Results from the UK showed the country was the most impatient for results from digital transformation moves. A quarter of the respondents expected to see results in the first six months. Twenty-four percent believed that digital technology was the best way to change customer relationships, with only Finland and Sweden holding stronger views on this subject. UK data showed that 42% had cancelled digital projects in the past two years but only a quarter had experienced failure. The consequences of failure were not much as digital budgets were generally under half a million euros. The full survey can be downloaded here. New Zealand's competition regulator, The Commerce Commission, has issued a draft determination on how much the countrys telcos will each pay towards the governments NZ$50 million Telecommunications Development Levy which covers the operation of telecommunications infrastructure and services that are not commercially viable. In a draft decision published on Thursday, the Commission lists the countrys largest telco Spark as paying NZ$17,671,044.86, with the second biggest operator Vodafone to pay NZ$13,169,981.20, followed by Chorus NZ$960,502.00, 2degrees NZ$356,180,198 and Vocus NZ$1,577,038.94. The decision sees Spark, Vodafone, Chorus, and 2degrees Mobile collectively paying more than 90% of the NZ$50 million levy. The levy, about 1% of telecommunications services revenue, is paid by providers earning more than NZ$10 million per year from operating a telecommunications network, including providing Internet, mobile and data services to consumers. And in September this year the Commission released its 2016/17 final determination on the cost of the Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) operated by Sprint International New Zealand for the hearing and speech impaired, with its final calculation determining that the cost for that period is NZ$2.5 million, with the sum payable by the government out of the NZ$50 million levy. * A firm with an operating revenue over the $10m minimum telecommunications revenue threshold for inclusion may have a reported qualified revenue of under NZ$10m due to adjustments. **s 79 of the Act requires treatment of these Crown companies as one QLP when assessing who is required to contribute to the TDL, including whether their combined qualified revenue exceeds the NZ$10m telecommunications revenue threshold. However, they provided separate disclosures, so their TDL allocations are displayed separately. s 79 of the Act requires treatment of these Spark Group companies as one QLP when assessing who is required to contribute to the TDL, including whether their combined qualified revenue exceeds the NZ$10mtelecommunications revenue threshold. However, they provided separate disclosures, so their TDL allocations are displayed separately. Reddit Email 218 Shares By Golnaz Esfandiari | ( RFE/RL) | Getting a minister approved in Iran is not a perfect science; finding the right formula for the sensitive post of science minister is particularly difficult. More than two months after beginning his second term in office, President Hassan Rohani is still looking to complete his cabinet. The position of science minister, which has been scrutinized by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in recent years, is one of the final pieces of the puzzle. Rohani has reportedly been running the names of potential nominees by Khamenei, who is said to have expressed concerns that the position could be used to lead the country down a path of deviation from the principles of the Islamic Revolution. He has warned against academia being used as a soapbox for political activities, and the science minister is tasked with overseeing universities, many of which have been at the center of antiestablishment protests and political activism. While his office technically has the right to nominate the science minister by itself, there have been suggestions that President Rohani has presented as many as 20 names to Khamenei all of which have reportedly been rejected. Ali Khamenei h/t Wikipedia Now, however, there are signs that Rohani has found someone that Khamenei and Irans camp of hard-line conservatives can live with. Rohani on October 21 presented the name of his nominee, Mansur Gholami, to parliament. Safe Choice Gholami, the current head of Hamedans Bu-Ali Sina University, appears to be a safe choice for a president who began his second term in August amid intense pressure by hard-liners, who oppose Rohanis stated goals of opening up the country and giving Iranians more freedom. Lawmaker Mahmud Sadeghi suggested on Twitter on October 17 that Rohani had proposed more than 10 names to Khamenei, but none passed muster with the man who has the last say in all state matters in the Islamic republic. Another lawmaker, Elias Hazrati, told Etemadonline on October 22 that Gholami was number 21 on Rohanis list of candidates to lead the Science Ministry. The president has defined a process and steps for naming the science minister, Hazrati said, without providing more details. The 20 other candidates who were on his list apparently did not succeed. Universities came under intense pressure under Rohanis predecessor, Mahmud Ahmadinejad, with dozens of students being banned or suspended from studies over their political activism. Coming after Rohanis campaign promises of more openness, the first science minister in the presidents first term, Reza Faraji Dana, reinstated some of the banned students and gave students more room to roam. But that quickly led to Danas impeachment and dismissal by the parliament, which also accused him of nominating to senior posts individuals who were involved in the 2009 protests against Ahmadinejads reelection, and of acting against national interests. In July, Khameneis website denied rumors that all cabinet members are selected with the approval of the supreme leader. It pointed out that such coordination is traditionally limited to the posts of defense minister, foreign minister, and intelligence minister, in keeping with the supreme leaders duties as outlined in the Iranian Constitution. Khamenei.ir conceded, however, that the Iranian leader is sensitive about certain ministries, including the Science Ministry and Culture Ministry, because any deviation in those places would lead to the countrys deviation as a whole. Student Protests Gholami isnt universally seen as the right fit, however. Gholami has been accused by some students of favoring restrictions on and outright prevention of political and media activities by pro-reform students. Students at several universities have said that, in nominating Gholami, Rohani has gone against his campaign promises This week, students at Tehrans Amir Kabir and Alameh Tabatabayi universities assembled for protests in which they held placards reading Mr. Rohani, remain committed to your promises and We want free and independent universities. Many have also voiced their opinions on social media, including this student from Hamedans Bu-Ali Sina University headed by Gholami. Let Gholami stay with us Bu-Ali Sina students, were used to political and security suffocation, the student posted on Twitter. The selection of Mansour Gholami as the nominee to lead the Science Ministry is like a [cold shower] for students who wanted change, tweeted journalist Shahrzad Hemati. Rohani has not publicly reacted to the criticism. Parliament is due to review Gholamis nomination for science minister, along with that of the other unfilled post, energy minister, in the next few days. Golnaz Esfandiari is a senior correspondent with RFE/RL. Via RFE/RL Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036. Reddit Email 86 Shares Anwar Mhajne and Crystal M Whetstone | The Conversation | Democracies in sub-Saharan and North Africa have regressed in recent years. Ethnic and religious minorities, political opposition, women and the LGBT community still struggle for equal rights and the right not to experience violence. Activists throughout Africa, many of them women, are working hard to improve human rights on the continent. Some use traditional understandings of femininity and motherhood to advance their political aims. In our research paper, The Use of Political Motherhood in Egypts Arab Spring Uprising and Aftermath, we trace womens use of motherhood womens identities as mothers as a tool for political participation in civil society and government in Egypt. Our research sheds light on how women activists have used this to increase the political participation of different sectors in society. One of the sectors we focused on is previously politically inactive women. These are individuals who have never paid attention to politics or engaged in collective action, who then become inspired by their identities as mothers to enter the public sphere. We believe that researchers studying social movements have not given sufficient attention to political motherhood as a mobilisation force for democratisation. This is because its usually associated with femininity and the private sphere while politics is typically viewed as a masculine domain. This can be traced back to thinking in Europe during the Enlightenment that connected womens position in the home to being civilised. This was transposed around the world via European colonisation, where it continues to limit womens political participation. Political motherhood Political motherhood refers to a form of womens political participation in which women are mobilised into the public political sphere and mobilise other groups through an association with their roles as mothers. Political motherhood taps into the position of mothers who can draw political attention to abuses against their families and other young people. Women who engage with political motherhood often do so consciously. They choose to use traditional notions of motherhood to their advantage. But this only happens if there is a bottom-up approach to using motherhood as a political mobilising force. In this scenario activists define how they want to use motherhood. We argue in our research that political motherhood can be particularly effective in countries where traditional notions of motherhood are embedded in society. For example, in Egypt and Tunisia governments view the family as an important unit of society with mothers at its centre. In these societies female activists are protected by the state because they have been defined as a special category of citizen who must be honoured and protected. The case of Egypt Maternal activism has a long history in Egypt going back to the 1919 revolution when Egyptian women made the strategic connection between motherhood and nationalism. They used their role as mothers of the nation to legitimise their political activism. This deployment of motherhood was used again during the Egyptian revolution of January 25th in 2011 part of the events of the Arab Spring. The iconic image of an older Egyptian woman kissing a male Egyptian officer on the cheek to shame the police for their brutal actions against demonstrators remains one of the strongest symbols of the revolution. Another example of the strategic deployment of motherhood was the march organised by the mothers of the martyrs on 21 March 2014. Political motherhood was essential in challenging the state in the Egyptian case. It helped recruit protesters for the January 25 revolution and protected some of them from state violence. Lessons learnt Egyptian mothers have continued to demand justice and accountability. When the government of the Muslim Brotherhood proved as unjust as Mubaraks regime, women again took the streets to demand justice. By playing up their status as grieving mothers, women are able to keep pressure on authoritarian and semi-authoritarian regimes. Regimes claiming legitimacy through conservative understandings of the family as a foundation of society are much more hamstrung in shutting down such protests when women play a central role. Women a force for change Fighting for democracy is hard work. For activists it is the continuous pressure they bring to bear on domestic and international institutions to force change. It is just as gruelling for progressive government officials and bureaucrats who are working towards reform on the inside. Women who choose to use political motherhood in their activism my find some room to manoeuvre under regimes that restrict civil liberties, and in societies which have been ravaged by armed conflict. Just as the Egyptian women in the Arab Spring found. We remain hopeful that women can be a force for change in Africa. Anwar Mhajne, PhD Candidate in Political Science, University of Cincinnati and Crystal M Whetstone, Ph.D. Candidate, Political Science, University of Cincinnati This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. Related video added by Juan Cole: The story of Arab feminism | DW Documentary White Rock, British Columbia (FSCwire) - Renaissance Gold Inc. (TSX.V: REN) (RenGold or the Company) is pleased to announce the completion of drilling on the Spruce East, Diamond Point and Buffalo Canyon projects, all of which are in earn-in agreements funded by Kinross Gold U.S.A., Inc. (See NR dated May 15, 2017). These are the first three of several projects in Nevada that we anticipate completing drilling programs on by Q1-2018. Kinross funded projects Spruce East Five reverse circulation drill holes have been completed, totaling 3985 feet (1215 m) testing two target zones. Holes SE17-02 and SE17-03 were designed to test the Scorpion fault and intersected quartz and calcite vein swarms but no significant gold mineralization. Holes SE17-01, SE17-04, and SE17-05 tested the Cicada fault zone and, together with historic drilling, define a 3150 foot (960 m) long gold-bearing fault zone. Hole SE17-04 intercepted 30 feet (9 m) of 0.31 g/t Au from 875 to 905 feet (267 to 276 m) where the hole ended in 0.52 g/t Au. Hole SE17-05 intercepted 10 feet (3 m) of 0.61 g/t Au from 535 to 545 feet (163 to 166 m) and 10 feet (3 m) of 0.76 g/t Au from 570-580 feet (174 to 177 m). Gold in SE17-05 is associated with a 100 foot (30 m) thick zone of anomalous geochemistry from 500 to 600 feet (152-183 m), which averages 0.19 ppm Au and 0.9 ppm Ag, 668 ppm As, 0.4 ppm Hg, 56 ppm Sb, and 3.6 ppm Tl. This geochemical signature together with the low base metal values in all holes, defines a Carlin-like geochemical cell on the project which remains open and minimally tested. Diamond Point Six reverse circulation drill holes have been completed, totaling 3940 feet (1200 meters), ranging from 435 to 875 feet (133 to 267 m) in depth. Holes DP17-01 through DP17-04 are widely spaced (~1 km spacing) and test geophysical targets in shallow pediment. Holes DP-17-05 and DP-17-06 are an angle and vertical hole respectively testing the West fault 1300 feet (400 m) north of the northernmost gold in soils anomaly where the system projects under shallow alluvial cover. Depth to Paleozoic bedrock on the project ranges from 5 to 70 feet (1.5 21m). All holes bottomed in Chainman Shale and no holes reached the target stratigraphy of the Webb formation. Gold values in 5 foot (1.5 m) sample intervals ranged from below detection limits to 0.29 g/t Au. No significant multi-sample gold intervals were intersected. Buffalo Canyon Five reverse circulation drill holes have been completed, totaling 5600 feet (1707 m) which range from 945 to 1240 feet (288 to 378 m) in depth. BC17-01, 02, and 03 intercepted thick zones of altered biotite hornfels containing abundant quartz tourmaline veining, characteristic of known gold mineralization on the project encountered in prior drilling and in surface sampling. Holes BC17-04 and BC17-05 intercepted a hydrothermally altered multi-phase intrusive complex. Assays are pending. Upcoming Drill Programs Pluto The Pluto project is located in Lander County, Nevada and is one of three properties under earn-in agreements with S2 Resources Ltd (ASX:S2R) (See NR dated July 31, 2017). Drilling has begun on this project and the initial program is designed to test for Antler Sequence hosted gold-silver mineralization beneath the Golconda Thrust. This geologic setting is host to tens of millions of ounces of gold and silver in the Battle Mountain District, located 60 miles to the north. At Pluto, surface geochemical and geophysical surveys define a compelling target comprised of multi-element Carlin-suite soil anomalies occurring coincident with a NE trending horst block defined by detailed gravity data, and robust gold in rock-chip results up to 13.1 g/t Au. This target has never been drill tested. Jupiter The Jupiter project is located in Nye County, Nevada, and is under an earn-in agreement with Ramelius Resources Ltd. (ASX:RMS) (See NR dated June 21, 2017). The project covers a large (5 km, 3 mi.) outcropping gold system with abundant jasperoid alteration of Cambrian carbonate units, multiple intrusive phases, and historical mercury workings. Significant gold anomalism is evident across the length of the system, with surface, rock-chip samples up to 3.1 g/t Au. Geologic and biostratigraphic work done by the Renaissance team has facilitated a well constrained, geologic and structural reinterpretation that has defined several new and untested drill targets, many of which are in same geologic environment as Newmonts Long Canyon gold mine. Drilling is expected to commence in Q4-2017. Robert Felder, President states We are pleased to be progressing in our planned, partner funded drill programs, beginning with the Kinross projects. The results from Spruce East are encouraging in that they have identified a significant Carlin-type alteration system and encountered several intercepts of anomalous gold mineralization that remains open. We are also very excited to begin drilling on both Pluto and Jupiter, two new high quality projects containing multiple targets which have never been drill tested. This level of activity and the drill testing of several projects per year is exactly what a prospect generator needs to do to achieve the ultimate goal of making a significant discovery for shareholders. Ronald Parratt, CEO and Executive Chairman states, Discoveries found in greenfield exploration result from drilling and Renaissance has a portfolio of such projects that are being drill tested now or that will be tested in the coming months. In addition, our generative activity continues and will keep our project pipeline full for further drilling into 2018 and beyond. Our exploration team is very busy these days and excited about our chances for success. Quality Assurance and Quality Control All samples were analyzed for gold at American Assay Laboratories in Reno Nevada, an ISO 17025 Accredited lab. Gold was analyzed for with 30 g fire assays on 5 foot (1.5 m) samples. Multielement geochemistry was analyzed for on 20 foot composited pulps using an Aqua Regia digestion and ICP-AES analyses. Blind standards, blanks, and duplicates were inserted into the sample chain to account for 9.5 % of samples and Diamond Point and 6 % of samples at Spruce East. Intercepts were calculated using a 0.15 g/t cutoff allowing up to 5 feet of internal dilution. Drilling is insufficient to define a true thickness of mineralized intervals. About Renaissance Gold Inc. US focused prospect generator utilizing a joint venture business model. The company is the spin-out of AuEx Ventures, Inc. - discoverer of the Long Canyon gold deposit in Nevada now in production by Newmont Mining Company. RenGold applies the extensive exploration experience and high-end technical skills of its founders and team members to search for and acquire high quality precious metal exploration projects that are then offered for joint venture to industry partners. RenGold maintains a large portfolio of gold and silver exploration properties and has entered into over 60 exploration agreements including those as AuEx. Qualified Person All technical data disclosed in this press release has been verified by RenGolds Qualified Person, Daniel Pace, M.Sc. who is a Registered member as defined by the Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration. TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Oct. 26, 2017) - Cordoba Minerals Corp. (TSX VENTURE:CDB) (OTCQX:CDBMF) ("Cordoba" or the "Company") is pleased to announce an update on its ongoing resource expansion program at the high-grade, near-surface Alacran Deposit (located within the San Matias Copper-Gold Project in Colombia), as well as other ongoing activities. Drill Program - September/October, 2017 Cordoba is pleased to report that five out of the ten planned drill holes at Alacran have been successfully completed. The Company continues to work diligently to complete the remainder of the planned drill campaign. Drilling is taking place in two main fronts aimed at extending the resource in the immediate vicinity of an internally modeled pit shell. Down-dip extension to the west : the two step-out holes drilled so far in the northwestern portion of the deposit (ACD070 and 71) were successful at proving down dip continuation of the copper-gold mantos with wide intersections of abundant chalcopyrite mineralization. This is particularly impressive in hole ACD070 where the stratabound copper-gold mineralization is overprinted by a discordant metre-wide fault zone filled with semi-massive sulfides. Predominance of arsenopyrite (plus minor pyrite and sphalerite) coupled with the pervasive sericite-illite alteration and carbonate gangue is diagnostic of a low sulfidation epithermal vein event. Assay results are pending. : the two step-out holes drilled so far in the northwestern portion of the deposit (ACD070 and 71) were successful at proving down dip continuation of the copper-gold mantos with wide intersections of abundant chalcopyrite mineralization. This is particularly impressive in hole ACD070 where the stratabound copper-gold mineralization is overprinted by a discordant metre-wide fault zone filled with semi-massive sulfides. Predominance of arsenopyrite (plus minor pyrite and sphalerite) coupled with the pervasive sericite-illite alteration and carbonate gangue is diagnostic of a low sulfidation epithermal vein event. Assay results are pending. Southern extension of Alacran: three step-out holes (ACD067, 69 and 72) were completed, adding 100 metres of strike length to the south of the shallow ore grade intercept that was reported in July for hole ACD066 (48 metres @ 0.70% copper and 0.19g/t gold). Assay results are also pending for these holes. Mario Stifano, President and CEO of Cordoba, said, "We are encouraged by our team's progress toward our immediate goal of publishing an updated Resource Estimate at the Alacran Deposit. The exciting discovery of new epithermal veins increases the likelihood for additional high-grade gold at Alacran and it remains unclear if they are related to previously reported high-grade gold bearing Carbonate Base Metal (CBM) veins. The down dip continuation of mineralization at northern Alacran has the potential to significantly increase the size and tonnage of the deposit. In addition, the potential relationship of the epithermal veins to the large soil anomaly and intrusive immediately north of Alacran needs to be explored." Updated Mineral Resource Estimate and Subsequent Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") The Company has engaged the services of AMEC Foster Wheeler to prepare an independent Mineral Resource estimate, which is expected to be completed in early 2018. Cordoba then plans to release a Preliminary Economic Assessment during the first half of 2018. Alacran Copper-Gold System The Alacran copper-gold system is located within the San Matias Copper-Gold Project in the Department of Cordoba, Colombia, 200 km north of Medellin. San Matias comprises a 20,000-hectare land package. The Alacran copper-gold deposit is located on a topographic high in gently rolling topography, optimal for potential open-pit mining. Access and infrastructure are considered favourable. The Inferred Mineral Resources at Alacran are currently 53.5 million tonnes of 0.70% copper and 0.37g/t gold. Alacran is approximately two kilometres southwest of the Company's Montiel porphyry copper-gold discovery, where drilling intersected 101 metres of 1.0% copper and 0.65g/t gold, and two kilometres northwest of the Costa Azul porphyry copper-gold discovery, where drilling intersected 87 metres of 0.62% copper and 0.51g/t gold. The copper-gold mineralization at Alacran is associated with stratabound replacement of a marine volcano-sedimentary sequence. The deposit comprises moderately to steeply-dipping stratigraphy that is mineralized as a series of sub-parallel replacement-style zones and associated disseminations. The mineralization is composed of multiple overprinting hydrothermal events, and the main ore phase is comprised of chalcopyrite-pyrrhotite-pyrite that appears to overprint an early magnetite metasomatic event. Qualified Person The technical information in this release has been reviewed, verified and compiled by Christian J. Grainger, Ph.D., a Qualified Person for the purpose of NI 43-101. Dr. Grainger is not considered independent under NI 43-101 as he is a consultant to Cordoba Minerals. Dr. Grainger is a geologist with over 18 years in the minerals mining, consulting, exploration, and research industries. Dr. Grainger is a Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG). The Alacran initial Inferred Mineral Resource estimate was completed by Mining Associates Limited and reported by the Company on January 5, 2017, and is in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 and the 2014 Canadian Institute of Mining (CIM) definition standards. On 24 October, the presidential candidate of Chiles left-wing Frente Amplio (FA) opposition coalition, Beatriz Sanchez, said that if former president, Sebastian Pinera (2010-2014), the presidential candidate of the centre-right opposition Chile Vamos coalition, wins the 19 November general election he will roll back the social policies implemented under the centre-left Nueva Mayoria coalition government led by President Michelle Bachelet. End of preview - This article contains approximately 391 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options A moth that looks like it crawled out of a shadowy underworld is freaking out Facebook users, including some who are wondering whether the creature in the post is even real. First, the bad news: It's real. The moth is called Creatonotos gangis, and it lives in parts of Southeast Asia and Australia. Now, the good news: The moth in the video is likely looking for love. (We admit, this may be good news only for entomologists and other insect-lovers.) [7 Things You Don't Know About Moths, But Should] On Oct. 19, Facebook user Gandik, from Semarang, Indonesia, posted a photo and video of the weird insect with the caption (translated from Javanese), "If you do not have a butterfly, please." In the video, the moth is rhythmically waving bizarre, hairy appendages that look like a large, gray "X." Male Creatonotos gangis moths have hairy scent organs that release pheromones during courtship. (Image credit: Alamy ) These appendages are actually called coremata organs at the end of a male moth's abdomen that can be everted (that is, turned inside out) to expose tufts of hair, according to Coffs Harbour Butterfly House, in Australia. When they're inflated, as they are in the video, these hairy organs release smelly pheromones in an attempt to woo lady moths. But while female C. gangis moths may find this scent irresistible, they are likely in the minority. Most farmers can't stand the species because their caterpillars are known to eat crops, including soybeans, rice and maize, according to Coffs Harbour Butterfly House. Once the C. gangis caterpillars brown and hairy creatures that have a yellow stripe down their backs metamorphose into moths, they develop brown forewings and white hindwings. The abdomen is usually red, but in some cases, it's yellow, according to the butterfly house. Their total wingspan is about 1.5 inches (4 centimeters). C. gangis females lay round, yellow eggs, often on leaves in clusters of 50, so if you don't want any in your neck of the woods, be on the lookout for these little guys. But if you have a soft spot for these arthropods, you can watch them grow up and wave their coremata, just like nature intended. Original article on Live Science. 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. President John F. Kennedy and his wife Jacqueline in a limousine in Dallas shortly before his assassination on Nov. 22, 1963. (Texas Gov. John Connally adjusts his tie in the foreground.) Updated at 6:51 p.m. ET. In a long-awaited declassification of files related to the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy, President Donald Trump said this afternoon that he was releasing to the public 2,800 documents, while holding back others due to national security concerns. In a White House memo, Trump said that "the American public expects and deserves its Government to provide as much access as possible to the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records (records) so that the people may finally be fully informed about all aspects of this pivotal event. Therefore, I am ordering today that the veil finally be lifted. At the same time, executive departments and agencies (agencies) have proposed to me that certain information should continue to be redacted because of national security, law enforcement, and foreign affairs concerns," according to news reports. He added that he is ordering agencies to review the redactions and after 180 days, "I will order the public disclosure of any information that the agencies cannot demonstrate meets the statutory standard for continued postponement of disclosure under" parts of the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992. That act mandated that all assassination-related files (which consist of more than 5 million pages) be housed in a single public collection in the National Archives and Records Administration. The act, passed on Oct. 26, 1992, required all these documents to be in the public collection no later than 25 years after the act was passed, according to the National Archives. [10 Persistent John F. Kennedy Conspiracy Theories] What should the public, and conspiracy theorists, expect? Many theorists don't buy the "lone gunman theory. Instead, they suspect former U.S. Marine Lee Harvey Oswald didn't act alone, even though the Warren Commission's investigation concluded that he alone fired the three shots along Kennedy's motorcade route on Nov. 22 of that year. A week after JFK's assassination, his successor, Lyndon B. Johnson, ordered an investigation of Kennedy's death, which was led by then-Chief Justice Earl Warren, so it was informally named the Warren Commission. Did Oswald have ties to the mafia? A Gallup poll taken just days before the 50th anniversary of the Kennedy assassination revealed that 13 percent of Americans believed the Mafia was behind the killing. The Times reported that historians and conspiracy theorists are particularly eager to find out if Oswald had ties to the Mafia, the CIA, the Soviets, the Cubans or even the FBI. But perhaps no juicy revelations or details will come of the released documents. "I don't think it will turn the case on its head," Gerald Posner, who wrote the 1993 book "Case Closed" (Random House), told the Times. In his book, Posner concluded Oswald was the lone killer. "We're not going to find some secret memo from J. Edgar Hoover [director of the FBI at the time] drawing out the escape path for Lee Harvey Oswald," he said in the Times article. "The public expectations are very high they've heard about secret files, they know theyve been locked up for all these years. The average person may think there's a bombshell in there." According to the National Archives, the collection includes approximately 2,000 cubic feet (85 cubic meters) of records, though most of them were already public before today. As for why there are so many conspiracy theories surrounding JFK's death and why they have persisted, social scientists and psychologists provide several explanations that are true for even non-JFK conspiracies. They can bring comfort, as the theories can give some people a feeling of a sense of control, psychologists say. And certain personality types, such as those who feel alienated or have paranoid tendencies, are more prone to believing conspiracy theories. Kennedy conspiracies, in particular, have become part of the larger culture, Joe Uscinski, a political scientist at the University of Miami who has researched conspiracy beliefs, told Live Science in 2013. "Everybody has had either a high-school history teacher or a college political science professor that has said something about it that lends itself to conspiracy theory. That's how we're brought up," Uscinski said. Original article on Live Science. A tiny repaired hole on the painting revealed it to be the lost Thomas Couture artwork. A conservationist of that painting had made a note of the hole. A painting the Nazis looted from a Jewish leader of the French Resistance during World War II has been identified, German authorities announced yesterday (Oct. 25). The 19th-century painting in question is "Portrait of a Seated Young Woman" by Thomas Couture, a French artist whose other works can be found in institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Ar t in New York and the Musee d'Orsay in Paris. The Couture painting had been confiscated in 2012 when German authorities discovered a possible trove of Nazi-looted art in the Munich apartment of collector Cornelius Gurlitt. But it was not connected with a specific victim of Nazi artwork looting until now. [Images: Missing Nazi Diary Resurfaces] Gurlitt, who died in 2014, had inherited the collection from his father, an art dealer who had been commissioned by the Nazis to sell looted and "degenerate" art abroad. His collection included pieces from famous artists like Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Paul Cezanne. This Thomas Couture painting "Portrait of a Seated Young Woman" was looted by the Nazis during World War II. (Image credit: Courtesy of the German Lost Art Foundation) The original owner of the Couture painting was Georges Mandel, a French journalist turned politician, according to the German Lost Art Foundation. Mandel was an early opponent of Nazi Germany and is sometimes called a French counterpart of Winston Churchill. He was eventually arrested and held as an Ehrenhaftling, or "prisoner of honor," in the German camps until his execution in the Forest of Fontainebleau near Paris in 1944. German art-looting organizations raided Mandel's apartment in Paris. (The German Lost Art Foundation found documents to prove this.) When reports of looted art were filed after war, Mandel's lost Couture painting was described, but only in vague terms. Couture painted many portraits of society women, but there was one detail that helped to identify this stolen artwork. A note from a conservationist mentioned that the canvas had a tiny, repaired hole near the chest of the young woman in the painting. Sure enough, the painting had such a repair. "I hope very much to see this work returned promptly to the descendants of the original owner," Monika Grutters, Germanys federal commissioner for culture and media, said in a statement. "We owe it to the people who were persecuted by the National Socialists, deprived of their property and their rights, and in many cases murdered, to leave no stone unturned in investigating and clarifying the Nazi looting of art. It is and remains our moral obligation in cases of artworks seized by the Nazis to find fair and just solutions." Researchers are still sifting through the Gurlitt collection, which contains more than 1,500 artworks. So far, more than 200 have been identified as works of "degenerate art" that the Nazis had banned, and six (now including the Couture painting) were confirmed as having been looted from victims of Nazi persecution. Some have been returned to descendants of the owners, including a painting by the Impressionist artist Camille Pissarro that was restituted earlier this year, as well as a painting by Henri Matisse that was returned in 2015. Hundreds more of the artworks still await a ruling as to whether they were looted by Nazis. Many of the pieces from the collection will go on display next month as part of the exhibit "Gurlitt: Status Report" at the Bundeskunsthalle museum in Bonn, Germany. Original article on Live Science. E.T. may be out there, silently swimming in frigid oceans beneath miles and miles of ice. Nearly 70 years ago, Nobel Prize-winning physicist Enrico Fermi famously asked, "Where is everybody?" He was referring to intelligent aliens, who seemingly should have shown themselves by now, given the Milky Way galaxy's advanced age (roughly 13 billion years) and its billions of potentially habitable worlds. In the decades since, scientists have offered many possible explanations for this puzzle, which has become known as the Fermi Paradox. For example, maybe Earth is the only inhabited world in the galaxy or the only one with intelligent life, anyway. Or perhaps E.T. exists and is watching us stealthily from a distance. [13 Ways to Hunt Intelligent Aliens] Last week, planetary scientist Alan Stern offered up another idea: Maybe intelligent life is widespread throughout the galaxy but most of it lives in deep, dark subsurface oceans that are cut off from the rest of the cosmos. Stern the principal investigator for NASA's New Horizons mission, which flew by Pluto in July 2015 laid out his reasoning at the 49th annual meeting of the American Astronomical Society's Division for Planetary Sciences in Provo, Utah. Do you think life exists on Mars? Buried oceans also provide a far more stable environment than surface waters do, potentially giving life more time, on average, to evolve intelligence and complexity, added Stern, who's based at the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado. "Impacts and solar flares, and nearby supernovae, and what orbit you're in, and whether you have a magnetosphere, and whether there's a poisonous atmosphere none of those things matter," he told Space.com. But the same thing that protects these environments from harm and change their overlying shell of ice (or ice and rock) also likely isolates them. "If they have technology, and let's say they're broadcasting, or they have city lights or whatever we can't see it in any part of the spectrum, except maybe very-low-frequency [radio]," Stern said. And there's another factor to consider: How likely is it that aliens in such environments are trying to communicate? Buried in the dark depths, would they even know about the countless other stars in the galaxy? They'd have to tunnel up to the surface just to get a look. It would also be tough for aquatic aliens to develop crewed spaceflight, Stern noted, since their life-support systems would require lots of water, which is very heavy. To be clear, Stern isn't claiming that this idea which he has submitted for publication in the journal Astrobiology is the definitive solution to the Fermi Paradox. "There is no probably no one answer," he said. "What this does is, it adds another element to the conversation." Follow Mike Wall on Twitter @michaeldwall and Google+. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com. People carry a body wrapped in sheets during the funerary practice of "famadihana" or "dancing with the dead" in the village of Ambohijafy in Madagascar. The current plague outbreak in Madagascar has killed more than 100 people, and officials say that a centuries-old tradition may increase the risk of further spread, according to news reports. The tradition, called "famadihana" in Malagasy, is sometimes referred to as "dancing with the dead," "the turning of the bones" or "body turning," according to Newsweek. It involves exhuming the bodies of the dead, rewrapping them in fresh cloth and then dancing with the wrapped corpses before returning the remains to their graves. The tradition is practiced in the central region of the island nation, on the country's high plateaus. But removing infected bodies from graves poses a threat. [How the Plague Outbreak in Madagascar Got So Bad, So Fast] "If a person dies of pneumonic plague and is then interred in a tomb that is subsequently opned for a famadihana, the bacteria can still be transmitted and contaminate whoever handles the body," Willy Randriamarotia, the chief of staff in Madagascar's health ministry, told the Agence France-Presse (AFP), an international news organization. The plague is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. The most common form of the disease is the bubonic plague; it occurs when Y. pestis gets into the body and travels to the lymph nodes. These lymph nodes become inflamed, and are referred to as "buboes," the World Health Organization says. If the bubonic plague goes untreated, the bacteria can spread to the lungs, causing pneumonic plague. This form of the disease can be spread through the air, the WHO says. The Malagasy government has issued rules dictating that the bodies of plague victims cannot be buried in tombs that can be reopened. However, local media have reported several instances of such bodies being exhumed covertly, the AFP reported. During a famadihana ceremony in a community located near the country's capital, one woman told the AFP, "I will always practice the turning of the bones of my ancestors plague or no plague. The plague is a lie." Since the outbreak began in August, nearly 1,200 cases of the deadly disease have been reported in the country, according to an Oct. 23 report from the United Nations' humanitarian affairs office and the Malagasy government. Originally published on Live Science. Local News, Community, Charity & Cause, Health & Wellness, Politics By Long Island News & PR Published: October 26 2017 $1 Million Empire State Clean Water Fund Will Help Address Clean Water Crisis. Albany, NY - October 26, 2017 - Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today departed on his second relief mission to Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria and announced new efforts to address two of the largest issues that the island continues to face - access to clean water and restoration of its power grid. The Governor traveled with Secretary to the Governor Melissa DeRosa, State Budget Director Robert Mujica and New York State Power Authority President and CEO Gil Quiniones. Once in Puerto Rico, the delegation will meet State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Roger Parrino who has been on the ground assisting efforts. Through the Empire State Clean Water Fund, New York is pledging $1 million to support the purchase of water filtration systems for households and communities that continue lack access to clean water. Already, the state has secured commitments from partners including the Partnership for New York City, the Orthodox Union and TIDAL. Additionally, a 28-member Tactical Power Restoration Team specializing in the supervision of transmission and distribution system recovery will assist ongoing efforts to address the island's power crisis and mobilizing 15 specialized contract accountants to expedite FEMA filings and reimbursements. Governor Cuomo and the delegation traveled on a donated Delta flight with a plane-load of water filtration systems. The Governor also delivered over 27,000 bottles of water between the Delta flight and an additional UPS flight. To date, New York has delivered over 1 million bottles of water and millions of pounds of other supplies through the Empire State Relief and Recovery Effort thanks to the generous donations of New Yorkers across the state and the support of key partners including UPS and UNICEF. "It's time to start talking about rebuilding Puerto Rico and calibrating what this nation should be doing going forward," Governor Cuomo said. "I want Washington to know the answer is not looking towards the termination of the operation because the operation is just beginning. It's a long road and there is a lot of work to do and New York is going to be there as it was from Day 1, until the end. I like to say about New Yorkers, when things are at their worst, New Yorkers are at their best. If you need help, New York is the place to come, always, and New Yorkers have showed that once again here." With these latest shipments, New York has delivered and distributed to date: 1.1 million bottles of water 1.8 million individual baby wipes 1.1 million diapers 220,300 feminine products 40,420 containers of baby food 37,072 packages of dry food 23,015 canned goods 15,200 bottles/pouches of juice/sport drinks 8,600 solar lamps 10 generators And deployed: 132 National Guard Military Police 125 National Guard Engineers 60 National Guard soldiers Four Black Hawk helicopters 156 Volunteer Physicians, Physicians Assistants, Nurses, and Nurse Practitioners More than 70 Port Authority personnel More than 130 State Troopers 24 New York Power Authority experts 24 members of the New York private utilities coalition Five-member logistical support team from the State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Two Department of Environmental Conservation drone pilots Since Hurricane Maria first hit Puerto Rico more than a month ago, the availability of clean water has continued to be one of the most critical barriers to the relief and recovery effort. As with any flooding-related disaster, the primary concern with dirty water is the spread of microbial with diseases such as E. Coli and Cholera and with these two new efforts, New York is taking direct action on solving this issue. Not only will the filtration systems provide clean drinking water, but New York has already donated more than one million bottles of water to the relief effort and the restoration of the power grid will help restore power to municipal water systems and allow more people to be able to boil their water if and when necessary. Along with the ability to access clean water, the restoration of the power grid is critical to moving recovery efforts forward. Since Hurricane Maria made landfall over a month ago, crews have only been able complete enough repairs to the grid to produce 662 or just 25 percent of the island's average monthly demand of 2685 megawatts. The 28-member Tactical Power Restoration team of technical experts will deploy in early November and consists of engineers and supervisors from Con Edison/Orange & Rockland, LIPA/PSEG-Long Island, National Grid, NYSEG and RGE to work with PREPA, Puerto Rico's power utility. Workers will be dispatched in teams to seven regions in Puerto Rico to provide technical oversight in the work to restore the island's power grid. The utility workers will be complemented by an additional team of 15 contract accountants to help expedite FEMA filings and funding reimbursements, similar to what was done for the Long Island Power Authority during Superstorm Sandy. This follows two previous deployments of NYPA technical experts to Puerto Rico on Sept. 22 and Sept. 29 in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Maria. Those NYPA teams embedded themselves within PREPA to assist in the necessary triage to the power grid, including the assessment of virtually all of the island's over 360 substations. The 30 State Police that traveled with the Governor will build on the efforts of the more than 100 troopers who have been deployed at various times since the storm to assist with security operations. Mission priorities include protecting commodities and fuel and securing the supply chains to ensure that the resources are distributed to people who need them most. Delta Air Lines Senior Vice President, Airport Operations-Northeast, Henry Kuykendall said, "Delta is proud to support Governor Cuomo's ongoing commitment to delivering the help needed in Puerto Rico. Over the last few weeks, Delta has been honored to transport dozens of State Troopers and hundreds of thousands of pounds of necessary supplies to the island. Delta employees in New York, San Juan and elsewhere stand alongside Governor Cuomo and all of those working toward ongoing relief and recovery in Puerto Rico." UPS Foundation President and UPS Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Eduardo Martinez said, "The UPS Foundation's Humanitarian Relief program provides lifesaving support to communities in crisis around the world throughout the year. We are honored to be collaborating with our long-time partner, the UNICEF USA, and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's Empire State Relief and Recovery Effort, who have demonstrated unparalleled leadership since day one of this crisis. To date UPS has sent 30 aircraft charters and transported more than 2.5 million pounds of hurricane relief to aid the people of Puerto Rico." UNICEF USA President and CEO Caryl Stern said, "Through our partnership with Governor Cuomo & UPS, we're continuing to provide critical relief to the children and families in Puerto Rico who need it most. We're already hearing how our support is giving hope for the future, and we will continue to leverage our resources and networks in support of long-term recovery and rebuilding." Partnership for New York City President & CEO Kathryn Wylde said, "The business community is proud to support Governor Cuomo's early and sustained support for Puerto Rico's recovery from the devastating impact of Hurricane Maria. New York has a special kinship with the Island. Provision of water filtration equipment is an essential step toward restoring a livable environment in its hardest hit communities." Orthodox Union Executive Vice President Allen Fagin said, "Right now, Puerto Rico needs our help more than ever and I am so grateful that Governor Cuomo has once again stepped up to the plate to deliver. Resources, dedicated personnel and funding for water treatment systems are critical to the continued recovery efforts on the island. This funding will be key to helping Puerto Rico fix their damaged and failing infrastructure, helping to secure clean water on the island for residents. I am confident that, under Governor Cuomo's leadership, New York will continue to help our neighbors as they work on rebuilding their communities across the island." Dania Diaz of Roc Nation, supporting TIDAL philanthropy efforts, said, "TIDAL continues to support the Empire State Relief and Recovery Effort. These efforts will bring lifesaving drinkable water to Puerto Rico more than a month after Hurricane Maria." Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, co-chair of the Empire State Relief and Recovery Effort, said, "This investment demonstrates Governor Cuomo's commitment to helping Puerto Rico recover and rebuild, and by providing critical funding for water treatment systems, our brothers and sisters will be better equipped to rebuild their lives. I thank the Governor and all New Yorkers for their continued donations to our family and friends on the island and look forward to a quick recovery for all of Puerto Rico." Assemblyman Marcos Crespo, co-chair of the Empire State Relief and Recovery Effort, said, "Puerto Rico need access to quality water in order to continue rebuilding, and with the Governor's commitment to fund new water treatment systems, residents on the island will be able to stay hydrated and strong in order while recovering from Hurricane Maria. The generosity shown by so many New Yorkers has already made an impact on Puerto Rican communities, and I encourage our neighbors to continue helping, as we keep our brothers and sisters in our thoughts." Additionally, 156 volunteer medical personnel from across New York's health care community have traveled to Puerto Rico to provide citizens with critically-needed health care assistance across the island. The volunteer initiative was made possible by the generous efforts of Greater New York Hospital Association, the Healthcare Association of New York State, Community Health Care Association of New York State, New York State Nurses Association and 1199SEIU. The team of volunteers arrived yesterday and will be deployed for 14 days and will serve at either the Federal Medical Center in Manati or will provide support on the critical relief missions that are being carried out by Disaster Medical Assistance Teams across Puerto Rico. Emergency medical supplies also continue to be delivered to Puerto Rico via a partnership with GNYHA, the Afya Foundation, and UJA-Federation of New York. Working together to coordinate all aspects of the missions, including securing private jets and purchasing more than $1 million in supplies, the partnership has delivered more than 30,000 lbs. of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies to 16 hospitals and health care organizations, and 12 community organizations to help ensure that Puerto Rican residents have access to critical medical care. Shipments have included vital medical supplies including 3,000 vials of insulin, transplant surgery drugs, pediatric oncology drugs, antibiotics and vaccines. Governor Cuomo has also engaged the Partnership for New York City, the city's leading business organization, to establish the Puerto Rico Relief & Rebuilding Fund at New York Community Trust, a public foundation, that will make grants to local charitable organizations in Puerto Rico that are helping with recovery and rebuilding from the devastation of Hurricane Maria, focusing on the most needy households and communities. Funds and in-kind contributions are being solicited from the business community, with a minimum donation of $10,000. Local News, Business & Finance, Community, Charity & Cause By Long Island News & PR Published: October 26 2017 A heartwarming message of gratitude just in time for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday! A check from the Give a Heart campaign will be presented to the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island on Friday, October 27th. New Hyde Park, NY - October 26, 2017 - Restaurants and its customers raised $95,263 for our second annual Give a Heart campaign, where customers donated $1 for a Heart during the month of July. This check will be presented to the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island on Friday, October 27th, 2017 at 11:30 a.m. The Hearts were displayed in Long Island McDonalds restaurants, and as a thank you, customers received a certificate for a Free Small Soft Drink with any purchase. Long Island McDonalds Restaurants and its customers raised $95,263 for our second annual Give a Heart campaign, where customers donated $1 for a Heart during the month of July. This check will be presented to the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island on Friday, October 27th, 2017 at 11:30 a.m. The Hearts were displayed in Long Island McDonalds restaurants, and as a thank you, customers received a certificate for a Free Small Soft Drink with any purchase. We are so grateful for the generosity and commitment displayed by the McDonalds and Long Island community, said Matt Campo, President of the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island. Since our inception 31 years ago, our partnership with McDonalds has been vital to our mission of keeping families close and providing comfort for families experiencing the pain of their childs medical crisis, he continued. We are overwhelmed by the growth of this initiative. On behalf of the families that benefit from the Give a Heart campaign, thank you for your continued support. Thank you Long Island customers, and others visiting our stores that donated $1 for our Give a Heart campaign this year. Your support has been amazing, and I am happy to say that we surpassed last year's donation. You have all helped to further the mission of our Ronald McDonald House of Long Island, says Josh Kaufman, President of the Long Island McDonald's Owner & Operators Association.In the spirit of Thanksgiving, this donation gives true meaning to being thankful. We are so touched by the overwhelming support from our customers demonstrated by the Ronald McDonald House of Long Islands Give a Heart campaign this year, says Luciana Montuoro, Long Island McDonalds Marketing & Public Relations Director. We realize that there are so many worthy charities one can donate to, and yet, customers wholeheartedly supported the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island. I take pride in saying that Long Islands best kept secret,and what I refer to as the rock on the Island, as it provides a sense of stability to families in times of need, is the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island located in New Hyde Park , says Luciana Montuoro. There are 80 McDonalds restaurants in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. For information on Long Island McDonalds programs, and to see how we serve in our communities, visit us at www.LIMcDonalds.com About the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island In November 2001, the Board of Directors at the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island embarked on a $5 million journey to more than double the size of the existing facility. The reason for this project was to help alleviate the pressures the resident managers faced when forced to turn away families in need. The new building, consisting of 24 additional bedrooms along with expanded community areas, has allowed the House to serve approximately one thousand families each year. Keeping families close in the midst of a medical crisis The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island is the 100th House of over 350 Ronald McDonald House programs worldwide. Located in New Hyde Park on the campus of the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Childrens Medical Center of New York, the House accommodates families in a warm and supportive environment. Through a series of programs and services, families staying at RMH-LI are able to focus on their childs recovery. Local News, Crime By Long Island News & PR Published: October 26 2017 Alfreda Chaplin of Bay Shore, 43, told a Highway Patrol officer that she was on her way to the Hospital because her mother was dying; she then made a false 911 call when the officer ... SCPD have arrested Alfreda Chaplin of Bay Shore, 43 for falsely reporting an emergency in an effort to avoid a speeding ticket. Suffolk County, NY - October 26, 2017 - Suffolk County Police on Thursday, October 26, arrested a woman for falsely reporting an emergency in an effort to avoid receiving a speeding ticket. Alfreda Chaplin was driving a 2008 Mercedes Benz eastbound on Sunrise Highway near exit 46A when she was pulled over by a Highway Patrol officer for speeding at approximately 2:05 a.m. Chaplin told the officer that she was on her way to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center in East Patchogue because her mother was dying. The officer informed Chaplin that he would follow her to the hospital to confirm her story. Chaplin had concocted the story about her mother in the hope of avoiding the speeding ticket. While en route to the hospital, Chaplin called 911 from her cell phone, gave a false name, and reported that she had been assaulted by her husband, who had a gun and had left her on the eastbound service road of Sunrise Highway near exit 46A. She hoped that the officer escorting her would be called away. It was determined that the false 911 call had come from Chaplin, and when the escorting officer pulled her vehicle over again, Chaplin admitted that she made the false call. Chaplin, 43, of Bay Shore , New York, was arrested and charged with Falsely Reporting an Incident 3rd Degree. She was also issued a summons for speeding. She was held overnight at the Fifth Precinct and is scheduled to be arraigned today at First District Court in Central Islip Local News, Crime By Long Island News & PR Published: October 26 2017 Yunok No of Central Islip, 54, was arrested after an investigation into illegal activities at the Charming Spa, police say. SCPD have arrested Yunok No of Central Islip, 54, for prostitution during a massage parlor raid in Hauppauge. Hauppauge, NY - October 26, 2017 - Suffolk County Police on Wednesday, October 25 arrested a woman for prostitution during a massage parlor raid in Suffolk County Police on Wednesday, October 25 arrested a woman for prostitution during a massage parlor raid in Hauppauge, N.Y. In response to numerous community complaints, Suffolk County Police Fourth Precinct Crime Section officers, Suffolk County Police Criminal Intelligence detectives, agents from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and a Town of Islip Fire Marshal conducted an investigation into illegal activities at the Charming Spa, located at 676-B Motor Parkway, at approximately 2:35 p.m. Yunok No, 54, of Central Islip, N.Y. , was charged with Unauthorized Practice of a Profession, a Class E Felony under the New York State Education law and Prostitution under the New York State Penal Law. The Town of Islip Fire Marshal issued six summonses for occupancy and town code violations. No will be held at the Fourth Precinct and is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip, on October 26. The investigation is continuing. On Tuesday Apple announced its latest corporate earnings, a relatively flat quarter that still brought in $11 billion in profits. As always, if you look beyond the raw numbers on its reports and listen to its hour-long phone call with select Wall Street analysts, you can get some interesting perspective on where the company is going. Rumors suppress demand If theres anything Apple likes less than discussing its future product plans, its probably other people discussing its future product plans. Aside from a tossed-off joke on stage at a product launch, Apple rarely discusses rumors of what its working on. Which is why I was struck by Tim Cooks response to a question by UBSs Steve Milunovich about a recent survey from 451 Research that suggested a drop-off in intent from prospective iPhone buyers. In general what we are seeing we believe to be a pause in purchases on iPhone, Cook said, which we believe are due to the earlier and much more frequent reports about future iPhones. In other words: Reporting about Apples future iPhone plans is becoming more frequent and happening earlier in the process, and its having a material impact on Apples current iPhone business. Now, there are some caveats here: First, the promise of a redesigned iPhone may have more resonance in an era where the product hasnt had a major redesign in two and a half years. Second, buying hesitation might be bad today, but its not bad tomorrow if that new iPhone ships and Apple sells a ton of them. Still, its interesting to see Cook directly address what Apple feels is the impact of future product reports on Apples current sales. Analysts are worried about Qualcomm A couple of analysts on the phone call asked about Apples dispute with Qualcomm over billions of dollars in patent fees. Bernstein analyst Toni Sacconaghi went so far as to raise the specter of potential court injunctions that could prevent Apple from selling the iPhone in certain parts of the world. Cook dismissed that sort of talk: I dont believe anyone is going to decide to enjoin the iPhone based on that, he said. I think that theres plenty of case law around that subject, but we shall see. Cook is not a lawyer, but he employees some pretty good ones, who presumably gave him that advice. More broadly, though, Cook portrayed Apples stand against Qualcomm as being against an unfair licensing regime that gives Qualcomm a share of the entire price of an iPhone. Qualcomms trying to charge Apple a percentage of the total iPhone value, Cook said. And they do some really great work around standards essential patents, but its one small part of what an iPhone is. It has nothing to do with the display or the Touch ID or a gazillion other innovations that Apple has done. And so we dont think thats right. Congratulations to whomever had gazillion in the Unlikely Words Tim Cook Might Use on an Analyst Call contest. Chinas rough in spots, but not overall Famously bullish on China, Cook has had to resort to citing specific figures about Apples business there to explain the dramatic drop-off in Apples performance in the past year. On Tuesday he provided a lot more detail about China to point out the bright spots: Great sales of the iPhone 7 Plus, and major growth in the Mac, services, and retail traffic. The reasons Cook cited as depressing the companys Greater China results? Foreign-currency devaluations and particularly weak sales in Hong Kong, as well as slumping sales on all older iPhone models. What I now believe is that well improve a bit more during this current quarter, Cook said. Not back to growth, but improve, make more progress. And you know we continue to believe that there is an enormous opportunity there. Services growth via subscriptions Apple has been trumpeting its growing Services budget line for a few years now, and with good reason: Its been the most consistent source of growth at Apple for a little while. Apple provided a bit more detail on that growth by updating a number that its executives mentioned on the previous quarters analyst call: the number of active subscriptions to Apple services. Three months ago, that number was 150 million, but its now at 165 million. Sequential growth of 15 million subscriptions is nothing to sneeze at. Yes, thats not a representation of total usersIm both an Apple Music subscribe and an iCloud storage subscriber myself, and each of those subscriptions is counted separately in that figurebut its still a huge number, and growing fast. Whats more, the number of Apple accounts that are currently paying for something has grown more in the last 90 days than ever before. Its all part of a larger story Apples telling about its customers, too: their value increases over time. As people come into the ecosystem and start paying on the ecosystem, we see a spending profile that is very similar around the world, Apple CFO Luca Maestri said. People start at a certain level and then they tend to spend more over time. Once a user buys in, they keep upping the ante. And thats great for Apples services business. Yeah, making wearables is a tough business Sometimes when Apple executives acknowledge that a particular product category is difficult, theyre offering an explanation about why Apple has struggled. But sometimes they use that acknowledgement to throw shade. That was the case when it came to discussing the wearables market, especially smartwatches. The watch area is really hard, Cook said. Itin essence, from an engineering point of viewis similar to a phone in terms of the intricacies and so forth. And so Im not very surprised that some people are falling out of it, but were very committed to it and believe that its already a big business and believe over time it will be even larger. Cook failed to characterize Apple Watch overallwhich suggests that he lacked a specific superlative, unlike last quarters sales, which he characterized as the largest yet. But he did say that Watch sales more than doubled in six of our top ten markets, which is phenomenal growth particularly in a non-holiday quarter. And so we couldnt be more satisfied with it. Roll it up with AirPods and Beats and, Cook says, youve got a business that in the past 12 months has grown to be the size of a Fortune 500 company. All the talk about the Watch came in response to a question that was trying, in that clever way that the financial analysts do, to elicit a statement out of Cook about the future of Apples product plans. And while that question was doomed to fail, as all such questions are, it still allowed Cook to offer a promise for the future of Apples wearables business. Where does it go? I wouldnt want to comment on that, Cook said, and audibly stifled a laugh. But we do have a really great [product] pipeline here. Tim Cook wants more out of India Apples famously been a laggard when it comes to India. But recently it has been pushing harder there, with Cook saying Apple has a ton of energy going into the country on a number of fronts, including a new developer center in Bangalore. Cook also saved some of his most choice superlatives for his description of the rapid growth happening in India: Theyre moving at a speed that I have not seen, in any other country in the world. And it is truly impressive. But as for Apples growth in India? Cooks not satisfied. Our growth rates are goodreally good, by most peoples expectations, he said, and then gave a momentary pause. Maybe not mine, as much. Thats the sound of a CEO who thinks his company can do a better job in one of the worlds fastest-growing markets. Now we all have to watch and see what happens next. by Alex Weprin , October 26, 2017 Apple Inc. has made another splashy hire as it builds out its video content team: Jay Hunt, who will serve as creative director of Europe worldwide video. She will join the company in January. Hunt, who was most recently chief creative officer of the U.K.s Channel 4, will report to Apple chief content officers and co-heads of worldwide video Zack Van Amburg and Jamie Erlicht. At Channel 4, Hunt developed scripted series such as Sherlock and Black Mirror as well as unscripted series like Gogglerbox and Hunted. Hunt joins Apple as the company prepares to add scripted fare to its original streaming video lineup. So far, Apple has only run unscripted programming like Carpool Karaoke and Planet of the Apps, but with high-profile hires like Van Hamburg, Erlicht and former WGN America chief Matt Cherniss, the company is beginning to add more expensive, high-profile fare. Earlier this month, Apple announced a deal with Steven Spielberg and NBCUniversal to bring back the popular 1980s series Amazing Stories. 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. advertisement advertisement 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. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, October 25, 2017 Facebook has not yet addressed concerns over its decision to mesh data with messaging service WhatsApp, European privacy regulators said this week. Last year, WhatsApp announced plans to share users' phone numbers and other information with Facebook. Facebook, which acquired WhatsApp in 2014, said it would draw on those numbers to make friend suggestions to WhatsApp users, and also send them ads, based on Facebook data. The company also will use phone numbers for other purposes, including analytics and fighting spam. WhatsApp promised to let people opt out of receiving targeted ads (and receiving friend suggestions) based on phone numbers. But the company refused to allow people to avoid having their phone numbers shared with Facebook. advertisement advertisement European regulators raised objections to Facebook's plan when it was first announced. This week, European regulators in the Article 29 Working Party said in a letter to WhatsApp's CEO that the company has yet to resolve those objections. The letter noted that WhatsApp attempted to gain users' consent to share their information with Facebook, but faulted the company's methods. One problem flagged in the letter was that WhatsApp told users that they couldn't continue to use the service unless they agreed to share their data. The EU group said it disapproved of that "take it or leave it" tactic. "Consent could not be freely given by WhatsApp users in the absence of sufficiently granular user controls allowing for an appropriate level of control over the sharing of the data," Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, Chairwoman of the privacy group, wrote. "The processing of personal data by WhatsApp and the Facebook family of companies affects millions of EU citizens every day," the letter states. "The WP29 calls upon WhatsApp and Facebook to act fairly and transparently towards data subjects, to comply with EU data protection law and to cooperate fully with European data protection authorities." Prior to merging with Facebook, WhatsApp was famous for its stringent privacy policies, including a promise to never share users' personally identifiable information for ad purposes. Earlier this year, the European Commission fined Facebook $122 million for misleading officials about its ability to automatically combine data about its users with those of the messaging service WhatsApp. by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, October 25, 2017 Pittsburgh-based ad agency Gatesman has appointed Karen McKinley executive vice president and Chief Creative Officer in a move that reflects the industrys focus to elevate more women to top creative positions at agencies. McKinley replaces Dave Kwasnick, who left the agency last year. According to the agency, McKinley is tasked with elevating its creative identity, enhancing client work and inspiring connectivity, innovation and collaboration across the agencys Pittsburgh, Chicago and Springfield, MO offices. McKinleys career spans two decades at big-brand agencies, boutique creative firms and digital shops. Most recently, she was creative director at Made Movement in Boulder, Co. Earlier, she held leadership positions at Leo Burnett, Martin/Williams, Carmichael Lynch, Campbell Mithun, Doe Anderson and McKee Wallwork Henderson. McKinley has earned numerous awards for work with brands such as Porsche, Subaru, TGI Fridays, Churchs Chicken, Kelloggs, General Motors and Pfizer, among others. advertisement advertisement Karen takes smart, original and breakthrough ideas to another level, stated John Gatesman, CEO, Gatesman. McKinley is the second female recently appointed to a senior management post at the agency. Last November, Gatesman named Shannon Baker agency president. Now, the two executives will jointly run the day-to-day operations at the 125-person shop. Its been a busy year for Gates, which added offices in Chicago and Springfield through an acquisition. It has also won $4 million in new business revenue this year, including global office brand Fellowes after a formal review. That account is being led out of the agencys Chicago office. While not yet fully embraced industry-wide, the shift to elevate and promote talented, creative and ambitious women to positions of power is a no-brainer, said Gatesman. One of the most counterintuitive statistics is that women control nearly 80% of consumer spending, yet very few women make it to the c-suite in business. "In addition to Shannon and Karen, our agencys leadership team is comprised of more than 60% women. That makes a statement to young women trying to break in to the industry about our agency and our culture. by Karlene Lukovitz @KLmarketdaily, October 26, 2017 Godiva now part of a global conglomerate looking to vault to a leadership position in the U.S. premium chocolate market is launching its assault with a lower-priced but still premium offering, broad retail distribution, and an eyebrow-raising campaign. The new line, Godiva Masterpieces, features three of the most popular varieties of the traditional chocolates that for the past 90 years have been sold mainly in Godiva boutiques (about 170 in the U.S.) and select department stores. Theyve been repackaged for the mass-retail CPG market as individually wrapped chocolates (about $3.99 for 5 ounces) and filled chocolate tablets (about $2.99 for 3 ounces). In comparison, a 7-ounce bag of traditional Godiva truffles is priced at about $12. The goal: Expand Godivas customer base by making its premium chocolates affordable and accessible for everyday consumption. advertisement advertisement The global campaign, from London-based Chi & Partners, features video/TV creative by famed fashion and portrait photographer Rankin and an original music score by Tim Drum. The sensual, suggestive imagery aims to appeal to a wide audience and demonstrate the multi-sensorial effect of eating Godiva chocolate, while maintaining the brands reputation for quality, according to the agency. Tagline: Chocolate Never Felt So Good. The U.S. version of the first ad (below) which will run on network prime time, late night and national cable programming through Q4, to support the critical holiday period is actually a bit less obvious in its suggestion of a sexual experience than a U.K. version. The Masterpieces line debuted in the U.K. in early September. For all markets, our creative is designed to be breakthrough, provocative and differentiated from what consumers are used to seeing in premium chocolate ads, Brian Blanchard, CEO of Pladis North America, tells Marketing Daily. That said, sensibilities between markets differ and certain visual scenes and imagery that were in the original creative which is now essentially the U.K. version were perceived as too provocative and therefore negatively by U.S. consumers. So we listened to our consumer and made some tweaks, [still resulting] in a visually powerful and compelling piece of communication. The campaign also includes all digital elements across the paid, owned and earned spectrum, including large scale digital partners like Facebook and Google, integrations with digital content partners, influencer outreach, earned media, and traditional paid video/banner/search advertising, reports Blanchard. More creative executions will be rolled out over the coming months, including ads to support Valentines Day, Easter and Mothers Day. Global Expansion Plan After a successful U.S. soft launch in Costco starting last December, the Masterpieces line has now been rolled out nationwide to mass retailers including Walmart, Kroger, Target, Publix, Walgreens, BJs and Albertsons, along with Costco. In addition to the U.S. and U.K., the line is already marketed in Turkey and several markets in the Middle East, and bound for other markets worldwide. Its the first major new initiative from Pladis, a global confectionary business formed by Turkish conglomerate Yildiz Holding last year by consolidating the Godiva, DeMets Candy and United Biscuits brands. The U.S. premium chocolate market is dominated by the Swiss company Lindt, with its Lindt, Russell Stover and Ghirardelli brands. Pladis currently owns just a 1.5% share with combined boutique sales of Godiva and mainstream-retail sales of its DeMets divisions Turtles and Flipz brands, according to Confectionary News. But Pladis is out to capture a 10% share of U.S. premium chocolate within about five years starting with projected first-year Masterpieces sales of $20 million. The U.S premium segments growth has outpaced the chocolate category as a whole, presenting opportunity, but also the challenge of increased competition, notes Blanchard. We recognized the need for us to sharpen our competitive edge and ensure that were giving consumers the absolute best in terms of quality and experience from Godiva, in an accessible price point and format, he says. Every successful brand needs to look continuously for opportunities to renew and expand its consumer base, he adds. In Godivas case, the size of the business relative to the strength of the brand is low, so we have a tremendous opportunity to connect with new consumers and make our luxurious experience available to more people on more occasions. Also, as consumers experience our brand on a more regular basis, they will be more likely to purchase higher end items like our super-premium gifting assortments, and to shop our boutiques. Pladis, which operates in 130 countries, reportedly believes it can grow Godivas global sales to $2 billion. And between chocolate and its planned introduction of its McVities biscuit brand in the U.S. market, the company is said to be aiming to grow U.S. sales to a level at which they will account for a fifth of its global sales. by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, October 26, 2017 Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) has selected Amsterdam Worldwide as its lead global brand agency, the Japan-based automaker has confirmed. The carmaker tasked the Amsterdam-based agency earlier this year with pitching a new brand strategy following the carmakers entrance last year into the Renault-Nissan Alliance. That occurred after Mitsubishi was caught up in a scandal where it was found to be overestimating fuel economy on a number of its models. Nissan subsequently took control of the company. The agency came up with the Ambition to Explore brand strategy that was unveiled this week at the Tokyo Motor Show. Creative work from the agency, including the new global marketing tagline, Drive Your Ambition is also debuting in Tokyo and will be adapted to global use. advertisement advertisement Guillaume Cartier, Corporate Vice President of Global Marketing and Sales at Mitsubishi Motors, stated, Amsterdam Worldwide has been an important partner in the renewal of the Mitsubishi Motors brand, and we value their strategic thinking, creativity, and agility. They have delivered on all fronts in a high-pressure period for us. In addition to brand strategy the agency will support the automakers product marketing, creative content and global and regional campaigns. (Butler, Shine, Stern & Partners was recently tapped for U.S. AOR duties). The agencys Mitsubishi client team will be led by Amsterdam WW founder and CEO Brian Elliott (who led Mitsubishis pan-European advertising in mid-2000s) along with client services director Agathe Wiedemair and executive creative director Moritz Grub. by Sara Guaglione , October 26, 2017 MPA, the magazine media trade association, has introduced a new metric to its Magazine Media 360 Social Media Report to compare magazine brands social media performance across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest. The metric, called the Social Media Engagement Factor, found that audiences are more deeply engaged with magazine brands than non-magazine brands on social media, according to MPAs 2017 third-quarter report. The metric is designed to measure audience engagement by comparing the number of social actions (likes, comments, favorites, retweets, repins, sharing) to the number of posts on social media by publishers. Using this methodology, an average Social Media Engagement Factor is developed for each magazine and non-magazine brand across the four social networks, and a median Engagement Factor is reported by network and content category (such as auto, business and politics). advertisement advertisement The third-quarter Social Media Report revealed magazine media brands outperform non-magazine brands on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest, while audience engagement with non-magazine brands ranked higher on Twitter. Magazine brands audience engagement was especially high on Instagram. The top three brands on the platform include National Geographic Magazine, National Geographic Traveler and ESPN The Magazine. "The Social Media Engagement Factor makes it easier than ever for publishers to chart and track their social-media effectiveness, stated Jim Anderson, CEO of social media optimization platform SocialFlow, which collected the data for the report. The report includes social-media statistics for about 200 magazine media brands from 36 companies. MPA also reports total followers and likes for magazine brands on social-media platforms has reached 1.1 billion in 2017 so far, up nearly 5% compared to last year. On Facebook, the top three brands ranked by engagement factor were HGTV Magazine, AARP The Magazine and Country Living. On Pinterest, the top three also includes HGTV Magazine, as well as The Family Handyman and Taste of Home. On Twitter, ESPN The Magazine, Sierra Magazine and Slam were the magazine brands with the highest audience engagement on the platform. The top five magazine brands with the most total likes or followers across social networks were National Geographic Magazine, ESPN The Magazine, Vogue, Time and The Economist. Capping off a busy Thursday for Twitter, the company said it is barring ads from two Russian-backed media organizations. Effective immediately, Twitter has made the policy decision to off-board advertising from all accounts owned by Russia Today (RT) and Sputnik, the social giant stated on its Public Policy blog. Twitter said it made the call after taking a closer look at activity on its platform during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. The U.S. intelligence community has since concluded that both RT and Sputnik attempted to interfere with the election on behalf of the Russian government, which also factored into Twitters decision. At least for now, the ban is restricted to those two entities, Twitter said Thursday. advertisement advertisement Both publishers can still maintain a presence on the social network and promote their content organically, Twitter said. In a show of good faith, Twitter also said it plans to donate the estimated $1.9 million in ad revenue that it has taken from RT and Sputnik since 2011. Twitter said the funds will support external research into the use of Twitter in civic engagement and elections, including use of malicious automation and misinformation, with an initial focus on elections and automation. Following Facebooks lead, Twitter only recently noted the presence of Russian agents on its platform and their efforts to influence the 2016 U.S. election. Of the roughly 450 accounts that Facebook recently shared as part of their review, Twitter concluded that 22 had corresponding accounts on its own platform. In addition, Twitter said it found another 179 related or linked accounts -- none of which were registered as advertisers on its site. Yet, Russian entities did use Twitters ad network to reach U.S. citizens, the company revealed. Specifically, Twitter admitted that it sold ads for accounts connected to RT, which it acknowledged has strong links to the Russian government. Based on its findings, RT spent $274,100 in U.S. ads in 2016, Twitter reported at the time. In 2016, RT-affiliated accounts -- including @RT_com and @RT_America -- promoted 1,823 Tweets, which definitely or potentially targeted the U.S. market, Twitter determined. Like Facebook, Twitter says it is cooperating with congressional committees with respect to investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Late last month, Colin Crowell, Twitter vice president for public policy, met with staffers from the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide refer to a deliberate action taken with the intention of ending a life to relieve persistent pain. In most countries, euthanasia is against the law and may carry a jail sentence. In the United States, the law varies between states. Euthanasia has long been a controversial and emotive topic. This article looks at the debate surrounding the decisions. Euthanasia and assisted suicide Share on Pinterest doble-d/Getty Images The definitions of euthanasia and assisted suicide vary. One useful distinction is: Euthanasia: A doctor is allowed by law to end a persons life by a painless means, as long as the person and their family agree. Assisted suicide: A doctor assists an individual in taking their own life if the person requests it. Voluntary and involuntary euthanasia Euthanasia may be voluntary or involuntary. Voluntary: When euthanasia is conducted with consent. Voluntary euthanasia is currently legal in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, and New Zealand. It is also legal in the U.S. states of Oregon, Washington D.C., Hawaii, Washington, Maine, Colorado, New Jersey, California, and Vermont. Non-voluntary: When euthanasia is conducted on a person who is unable to consent due to their current health condition. In this situation, the decision is made by another appropriate person, on behalf of the individual, based on their quality of life. Involuntary: When euthanasia is performed on a person who would be able to provide informed consent, but does not, either because they do not want to die, or because they were not asked. This is called murder, as its often against the persons will. Passive and active euthanasia There are two procedural classifications of euthanasia: Passive euthanasia is when life-sustaining treatments are withheld. The definitions are not precise. If a doctor prescribes increasing doses of strong pain-management medications, such as opioids, this may eventually be toxic for the individual. Some may argue that this is passive euthanasia. Others, however, would say this is not euthanasia, because there is no intention to take life. Active euthanasia is when someone uses lethal substances or forces to end the persons life, whether by the individual themself or somebody else. Active euthanasia is more controversial, and it is more likely to involve religious, moral, ethical, and compassionate arguments. What is assisted suicide? Assisted suicide has several different interpretations and definitions . One is: Intentionally helping a person take their own life by providing drugs for self-administration, at that persons voluntary and competent request. Some definitions include the words, in order to relieve intractable (persistent, unstoppable) suffering. The role of palliative care Since pain is the most visible sign of distress or persistent suffering, people with cancer and other life threatening, chronic conditions will often receive palliative care. Opioids are commonly used to manage pain and other symptoms. The adverse effects of opioids include drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, and constipation. They can also be addictive. An overdose can be life threatening. Refusing treatment In many countries, including the U.S., a person can refuse treatment that is recommended by a health professional, as long as they have been properly informed and are of sound mind. History One argument against euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide is the Hippocratic Oath, dating back some 2,500 years. All doctors take this oath. The Hippocratic Oath The original oath included, among other things, the following words: I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody who asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect. There are variations of the modern oath. One states: If it is given me to save a life, all thanks. But it may also be within my power to take a life; this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness and awareness of my own frailty. As the world has changed since the time of Hippocrates, some feel that the original oath is outdated. In some countries, an updated version is used, while in others, for example, in Pakistan, doctors still adhere to the original. As more treatments become available, for example, the possibility of extending life, whatever its quality, is an increasingly complex issue. Euthanasia in the United States In the U.S. and other countries, euthanasia has been a topic of debate since the early 1800s. In 1828, the first anti-euthanasia law in the U.S. was passed in New York state. In time, other states followed suit. In the 20th century, Ezekiel Emmanual, a bioethicist of the American National Institutes of Health (NIH) said that the modern era of euthanasia was ushered in by the availability of anesthesia. In 1938, a euthanasia society was established in the U.S., to lobby for assisted suicide. Physician-assisted suicide became legal in Switzerland in 1937, as long as the doctor ending the patients life had nothing to gain. During the 1960s, advocacy for a right-to-die approach to euthanasia grew. The Netherlands decriminalized doctor-assisted suicide and loosened some restrictions in 2002. In 2002 doctor-assisted suicide was approved in Belgium. In the U.S., formal ethics committees now exist in hospitals and nursing homes, and advance health directives, or living wills, are common around the world. These became legal in California in 1977, with other states soon following suit. In the living will, the person states their wishes for medical care, should they become unable to make their own decision. In 1990 the Supreme Court approved the use of non-active euthanasia. In 1994, voters in Oregon approved the Death with Dignity Act, allowing physicians to assist people with terminal conditions who were not expected to survive more than 6 months. The US Supreme Court adopted such laws in 1997, and Texas made non-active euthanasia legal in 1999. The Terri Schiavo case galvanized public opinion in Florida and the U.S. Schiavo had a cardiac arrest in 1990 and spent 15 years in a vegetative state before her husbands request to allow her to die was granted. The case involved various decisions, appeals, motions, petitions, and court hearings over a number of years before the decision was made to disconnect Schiavos life support in 2005. The Florida Legislature, U.S. Congress, and President Bush all played a role. In 2008, 57.91% of voters in Washington state chose in favor of the Death with Dignity Act, and the act became law in 2009. Controversy Various arguments are commonly cited for and against euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. Arguments for Freedom of choice: Advocates argue that the person should be able to make their own choice. Quality of life: Only the individual really knows how they feel, and how the physical and emotional pain of illness and prolonged death impacts their quality of life. Dignity: Every individual should be able to die with dignity. Witnesses: Many who witness the slow death of others believe that assisted death should be allowed. Resources: It makes more sense to channel the resources of highly skilled staff, equipment, hospital beds, and medications toward lifesaving treatments for those who wish to live, rather than those who do not. Humane: It is more humane to allow a person with intractable suffering to be allowed to choose to end that suffering. Loved ones: It can help to shorten the grief and suffering of loved ones. We already do it: If a beloved pet has intractable suffering, it is seen as an act of kindness to put it to sleep. Why should this kindness be denied to humans? Arguments against The doctors role: Healthcare professionals may be unwilling to compromise their professional roles, especially in the light of the Hippocratic Oath. Moral and religious arguments: Several faiths see euthanasia as a form of murder and morally unacceptable. Suicide, too, is illegal in some religions. Morally, there is an argument that euthanasia will weaken societys respect for the sanctity of life. Patient competence: Euthanasia is only voluntary if the patient is mentally competent, with a lucid understanding of available options and consequences, and the ability to express that understanding and their wish to terminate their own life. Determining or defining competence is not straightforward. Guilt: Patients may feel they are a burden on resources and are psychologically pressured into consenting. They may feel that the financial, emotional, and mental burden on their family is too great. Even if the costs of treatment are provided by the state, there is a risk that hospital personnel may have an economic incentive to encourage euthanasia consent. Mental illness: A person with depression is more likely to ask for assisted suicide, and this can complicate the decision. Slippery slope: There is a risk that physician-assisted suicide will start with those who are terminally ill and wish to die because of intractable suffering, but then begin to include other individuals. Possible recovery: Very occasionally, a patient recovers, against all the odds. The diagnosis might be wrong. Palliative care: Good palliative care makes euthanasia unnecessary. Regulation: Euthanasia cannot be properly regulated. Many women experience uncomfortable symptoms that result from the hormonal changes involved in menopause. We have chosen the top menopause blogs, written by both healthcare professionals and women who have gone through it, that educate, support, and inspire. Share on Pinterest Menopause blogs provide educational information, tips, and support from both healthcare professionals and women going through it. Each day in the United States, around 6,000 women reach menopause. The number of women who will be over the age of 55 by the year 2020 is an estimated 46 million. Menopause is the period that marks the end of a womans menstrual cycles, and it usually happens between the ages of 40 and 50 years. The average age for menopause among U.S. women is 51. A woman is deemed to have reached menopause when monthly periods have stopped for around 12 consecutive months. A significant part of menopause is a decrease in estrogen levels, which can cause symptoms such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and night sweats. While some women go through menopause with little or no symptoms, around 75 percent of women experience the symptoms above during the time that leads up to menopause, or perimenopause. Despite 55 percent of women not doing anything to treat their symptoms during menopause, many treatments can ease your symptoms and help to manage the chronic diseases that occur with aging. Menopause blogs are a useful source of advice, tips, and anecdotes from healthcare professionals and women who are in the midst of perimenopause, menopause, or postmenopause. Here are Medical News Todays 10 best menopause blogs. Customs and Interpol Close Cooperation The Director General of German Customs Authority, Schroder hosted by the Head of Interpol, Dr Stock (FOTO) On 25 October 2017, the Director General of German CustomsAuthority, Uwe Schroder, and the Secretary-General of Interpol,Jurgen Stock, met in Lyon in order to share experiences. Inparticular, the purpose of their meeting was to further intensify thegood cooperation that exists between the German Customs Authority andInterpol. Uwe Schroder put particular emphasis on one aspect: We have to combat organised crime and terrorism with joint operations. We are using all of our competencies and authorisations to achieve this purpose. The cooperation with Interpol represents a great added value from which we will benefit on a global scale. This is also indicated by the positive results of our conversation today. Therefore, personal contact and sharing experiences with Jurgen Stock are very important to me. After the reorganisation of the German customs and, in this context, the establishment of a General Customs Authority as higher federal authority as of 1 January 2016, the General Customs Authority with the Customs Criminological Office is responsible for the dialogue with Interpol and intensifying the cooperation on an international level. Close cooperation between police and customs is essential in combating all forms of cross-border criminal activities, and to identify the routes used in transporting illicit goods. Interpol is committed to continuing its strong relationships with customs organizations at the national and global levels, said Interpol Secretary General Jurgen Stock. Additional Information: The International Criminal Police Organisation (also referred to as ICPO-Interpol International Criminal Police Organisation) is an association founded to intensify the cooperation between national police and security authorities. It was founded in Vienna in 1923 as International Criminal Police Commission. Nowadays, Interpols headquarters is located in Lyon and its presidency rests with Secretary-General, Jurgen Stock. Until the beginning of November 2014, he was the deputy head of Germanys Federal Criminal Police Office. During the 83rd General Assembly of Interpol in Monaco, Stock was elected Secretary-General of the organisation. Interpol authorises the police forces of the 192 member states to work together. At present, the organisations main focus is on three tasks: combatting terrorism, cybercrime as well as organised crime. Pressekontakt: Generalzolldirektion Pressestelle Stefan Kirsch Telefon: 0228 303 11611 Pressestelle.GZD@zoll.bund.de Original-Content von: Generalzolldirektion, ubermittelt durch news aktuell Over the weekend, the region of Volta came alive as the organizers and partners embarked on a 3-Day Zonal tour of the region to organize seminars in the run up the inaugural Volta Music Awards. True to it's billing, the train first set off from Hohoe on the 20th as stipulated on the agenda. Next up was Ho, the Regional Capital then finally to Aflao, which witnessed the maximum attendance. Borne out of the primary need of creating awareness, the seminar is an essential component of the Awards scheme and process instigated to educate potential nominees, spell out criteria for nomination & winning, the need for the advent of the award scheme amongst others. The Volta Music Awards is a far cry from the assumption that other regions are doing same so they also want to follow suit. It was borne out of the need to appreciate our talent and while at it, unite all musicians in the region and also promote our rich culture to the outside world as well. In a tete-a-tete with the PR wing ( Jonilar & Elorm Beenie ) of the organizers, they acknowledged that once ago, Nigeria was known for fraud but not anymore. Now where when you hear Nigerian, Wizkid, Davido etc come to mind preemptively. Same way Volta should cease being known for Nogokpo but for what we also have to offer the world. They ended by adding that, Creativity is a virgin territory in Volta Region. Let us come together and sell it to the world. Speaking to the organizers, comprising Eventic Ghana, the Volta Regional Chairman of MUSIGA, Tony D, the PRO, Kwame Senyo, the Secretory, Rap Zigi, they unanimously stated that, the advent of Volta Music Awards was lauded at the trio venues as a welcome ingredient to the promotion of talent and culture of the region. Music stars present could not hold back from expressing praise and gratitude for the initiative and are willing to lend their support to see it materialize, they added. The organizers ended by expressing appreciation to all DJs, radio presenters, Radio stations, V1 TV, Trillion Media, Cubiq Gh, nogokpo.com and all others who have so far supported the project. As to when exactly the awards hold is unknown but the tentative projection speculated by the PR Tram is later this or early next year. Until then, we endeavor to keep you updated. But in the mean, kindly follow #VMAs on all social media @VoltaMusicAwards @EventicGh and www.voltamusicawards.com for more updates 26.10.2017 LISTEN Ghanaian boxer, Braimah Kamoko, also known as Bukom Banku has said he regrets bleaching. The Bukom-based boxer was seen flaunting his heavily bleached skin some months back. He later confirmed he was using bleaching creams to enhance his outlook. He was reported to have said in an interview that he was bleaching to become Ghanas ambassador to Germany. I am bleaching myself for German people to know that German people and Bukom Banku are one. So if you see me now, you will observe that I am from Germany. I want Ghanaians to know that I am a German now, he said. After priding himself with the bleaching act for almost four months, he later announced that he had put a stop to the act advising Ghanaians not to follow his mistake but learn from the consequences. He told Bola Ray on Starr Chat on Wednesday, October 25 that he was inspired by the fairer skin of musicians such as Michael Jackson and Daddy Lumba, but has now realized bleaching is not a good thing and regrets it. I stopped bleaching long ago. You know Daddy Lumba and Michael Jackson were looking nice and I admired them so I also started bleaching and people started praising methey called me Banku Fresh and the likes and I was happy but after I stopped bleaching the name changed to Banku black, banku dirty. I now fear Ghanaians because the same people who will praise you are the same people who will turn around and insult you. I want to tell Ghanaians that bleaching is not good even if you give me $10,000.000 million, I wont bleach, Bukom told Bola Ray. The commercial capital of Nigeria, Lagos, is expected to host a farewell crusade in honour of German International Evangelist, Reinhard Bonnke. The renowned man of God has been undertaking evangelistic works over the last 40 years across the world, especially in Africa, and is expected to mount the pulpit for the last time on the continent. Pastors, prophets, evangelists and Bible teachers from around the globe are expected to attend the crusade slated to take place from November 8 to November 12. The crusade promises to attract millions of worshippers from around the globe, with the purpose of helping them tap into the anointing on the life and ministry of Evangelist Bonnke, who has held several crusades on the African continent. A major highlight of the Lagos crusade, NEWS-ONE understands, will be what has been tagged: 'Passing A Burning Torch Conference' during the day sessions, targeted at leaders and all kinds of church workers from around the globe, including hundreds of Ghanaians and the rest of the West Africa sub-region. The anointed man of God is said to have told the Nigerian media concerning the crusade that God is going to do something I have never seen before. Evangelist Bonnke accordingly told journalists in Lagos earlier in this year that the Lord spoke to me that I should go back for one more campaign in Africa. I want not only to see a gigantic harvest of souls, but to pass my burning torch to this generation. While certainly not Christ for All Nations (CfaN's) final African crusade, Evangelist Bonnke is expected to inspire another historic global attendance equal to or exceeding that of the Millennium Campaign in Lagos, Nigeria, in the year 2000, this paper gathered. The 2000 crusade is on record as CfaN's largest to-date, attended by six million people, out of whom 3.4 million decisions for Christ were reportedly made, over the course of five nights. Old Age Age is said to be catching up with Evangelist Bonnke and as such his doctor has accordingly counselled him against too much physical exertions. The Lagos meeting, therefore, is his very last, though many are of the opinion that the venue should have been in Maseru, where he first preached in Africa 40 years ago. Peter Vandenberg, CfaN's Executive Vice President, predicts that this November, Evangelist Bonnke will enter and leave Africa possibly for the last time, bidding a bitter-sweet farewell to a continent and people whom he very much loves and have been the centre of his life's mission. CfaN is a non-denominational missions organisation aimed at taking the Gospel message to the world. Christ for All Nations is primarily known for its historic campaigns in Africa, and recently surpassed a milestone of 76 million documented decisions for Jesus Christ at major events in Africa and other parts of the world. CfaN has offices in countries around the world, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Africa, United Kingdom and the United States. It all began in Maseru, Lesotho, in 1969. After seven long years of missionary work in the traditional way, God showed Reinhard a vision of a blood-washed Africa. According to the CfaN website, Bonnke has personally preached to over 120 million people in Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, India, South America, United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Hong Kong, Canada and the United States of America. Actress Lydia Forson is full of praise and appreciation for the countrys health system after undergoing a successful surgery. Ms Forson noted that the life-saving surgery brought to light, the key challenges doctors and nurses go through to provide medical care to Ghanaians. The actress revealed in a Facebook post on Tuesday, October 24 that she had undergone a surgery. Although she did not give details, the actress shared a photo from the operation. Lydia Forson told Myjoyonline.com in an interview that she has now recovered from the surgery even though she had attended several events without divulging the pain she was going through. Im feeling well now. Its been a slow process but Im back on my feet now. I have my bad days but for the most parts, Im actually very good. The worst part is over, she said. The actress would not state when and where she had the surgery and what the surgery was for but said, It happened this year. Its something I have been going through from the beginning of this year. I had the surgery a while back. I dont want to give certain details because unless you go through [something like this], its hard to talk about it. To her, the most important thing is that, the countrys doctors and nurses deserve commendation for their selfless services to Ghanaians. I came to have a lot of respect for health professionals in this country. I also came to learn that, no matter how rich you are in this country, if its your time [to die] it's your time because little things that doctors need to help them do their job better, they dont have them. Lydia said, she went to several medical practitioners but how a certain Dr. Bilson handled her situation deserves commendation because he made the surgery easy and successful. Regardless of how bad the system is, people need to have more sympathy for what the doctors go through, she said. Next time I see doctors go on strike, even though it annoys me, I know what they go through to provide for us. I know what the nurses go through, how demanding the work is and how underpaid they areit gives you an appreciation for the health system, the actress stressed. Read Lydia Forsons post on Facebook post below: Today I want to thank God, by celebrating these people who hes strategically placed in my life at nearly every turn to see me through the worst. My mother : Mum, where would my life be without you? I was so naive to just how much I needed you, especially through this, but as usual you were right. For weeks I became your baby girl again, crying and needing you by my side. You put your own pain aside and focused all your energy on nursing me back to health; watching you limp back forth and not being able to help tore me up inside. But you refused to stop until I was back on my feet; so thank you mum for being strong enough for both of us, for hiding your own fears, and being my rock. My Father : Dad, your calmness and comforting words through this period helped me out of a frightening and dark place. On the days when I was too afraid to tell anyone how I really felt, you were the one I trusted with those feelings of doubt. Thanks for using this to try even in the smallest way to make up for the many years weve lost apart. And opening a new chapter in our relationship. My brothers: Sam and Manny, I really dont know how I got so lucky to have brothers who make me the center of their universe. I felt the frustration of wanting to be by my side, but what you dont know is I felt you there with me even from thousands of miles away. The long nights you stayed up with me on FaceTime, especially when I couldnt sleep were so precious to me, if I come back in another life I want you as my brothers over and over again. My friends : GGW girls, I see you. Thanks for the calls, phone credit ( yes you know yourselves), fruits and just continuously checking up on me. To Yvonne and Sandra, thanks for sneaking in the good stuff, to Gwen, doing what you did for me especially in my moment of need is something I will never forget. To Euphemia, thanks for being the sister I never had, and being someone I can always count on to make me feel better. To the many others I cant mention by name,thank you for listening to my fears and joining me to laugh them away. But most importantly thanks for being friends with a handful like me. My Doctors : Dr. Bilson, thank you for being the exception to the rule, for making me so confident in your work that I trusted you with my life. Thank you for not being the ordinary and for listening to my all concerns and fears, especially those I thought were just in my head.But most importantly thanks for going the extra mile. Dr. Delase Amedoh ( I just needed to write your full name) : Imagine it took surgery for me to finally see you as a doctor. Y But thank you for holding my hand as I cried like a baby. Thats an image I wish I could erase from your mind but its one Ill forever cherish. To my fans : You were with me every step of my healing process without knowing, you gave me something to constantly look forward to on my hospital bed. Some of your comments, especially your words of encouragement, support and love even when you didnt know what I was going through. 27.10.2017 LISTEN We consider our favorite moments of clothes in cars, having inspired designers across the globe since the day vehicles became a mainstream reality. The Second edition of Mens Fashion week Nigeria 2017 in partnership with Germaine Auto Center and Axe Nigeria intend to blur the lines between the fluid flowing world of fashion and engineered world machines (automobile), creating a unique structural aesthetic all of its own, helping each individual find their own Magic. The Men's Fashion Week Nigeria event took place on Oct 13-15 at the Germaine Auto Center. It was an event filled with testosterone, art and fashion. Designer 1407 experimented with transparency, prints and fluidity, with his model moving with supreme skill. Designer 2107 spiced up the contemporary senator look with details and prints. Maxivive introduced us to another dimension of mental health with his T-shirt capsule collection which was in collaboration with 26.8.77 BE-YOUTIFUL caught our attention as the urban wear designer Believe hit the runway. His slogan tees and hoodies did more of the talking as the models took the catwalk. Art never felt this good until kai's divo from Uganda, Palse from South Africa, Abrantie the Gentleman & Quophi Akotuah from Ghana, Moshions from Rwanda and Steve Ray from Nigeria took the runway. It was a total display of creativity and fashion. We also had designers like: BLAQ, Sammielle Couture, Ghetto youth X Reincarn8, Joe Patanga, Onabu Leihgjay designs, One Tribe, Walker designs, Zhalima Grazioni, Nana Classique, Dudu Black. Sunday was all about recognition and crowning of Mr. Universe Nigeria, awarding individuals who have contributed immensely to the Nigerian male fashion industry and its metropolises. The celebrity studded show included Richard Mofe Damijo, Mai Atafo, Vimbai Mutinhiri, Lamboghini, Jon Ogah, Soma, Juliet Ibrahim, Ono Bello, Joan Okorodudu, Frank Oshodi, Pela, Mueyiwa Omatsola, Francis Beacon, Marcus Pius, Kennedy Mgboji, Tracy Ishmael, Ariya Ticket CEO and a host of others. The show was hosted by Denrele Edun. Performance was by Nigerian DJ Teckzilla (Temi Oduntola, winner of the AXE Find Your Magic DJ Search campaign) performing his winning mixtape at the run way alongside other mixes, Linda Ikeji Music Artist, Val Obi and Pentagon Dance Company The categories and winners are as follows. US President Donald Trump has seized on reports that Hillary Clintons team bankrolled a sleazy dossier of allegations linking him to Russia. Unfounded claims that Mr Trump had been filmed with prostitutes in a Moscow hotel surfaced in the closing stretch of last years White House race. Mrs Clintons presidential campaign and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) reportedly helped fund the research. The victim here is the President, Mr Trump tweeted on Wednesday. He dismissed the dossier shortly before his inauguration as fake news. According to US media reports, Perkins Coie, a law firm representing the Clinton campaign and DNC, hired intelligence firm Fusion GPS in April 2016. Skip Twitter post by @realDonaldTrump 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 Fusion GPS, based in Washington DC, was paid to dig up dirt on Mr Trump, who was then Mrs Clintons rival for the presidency. The intelligence firm subcontracted Christopher Steele, a former British spy who previously worked in Russia, to compile the research. Attributed to unnamed sources, it claimed that Mr Trump had colluded with Russian officials during the election campaign. The unsubstantiated dossier also alleged that Kremlin intelligence had filmed Mr Trump with prostitutes at Moscows Ritz-Carlton hotel in 2013. Christopher Steele, a former British spy who worked in Russia, compiled the research The opposition research was initially funded by an unknown Republican consulting firm, which pulled the plug once Mr Trump captured the partys nomination. The Clinton campaign then picked up the tab, according to the reports. White House press secretary Sarah Sanders tweeted: The real Russia scandal? Clinton campaign paid for the fake Russia dossier, then lied about it & covered it up. Government outsourcing Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington Political campaigns have been in the business of digging up dirt on their rivals since the dawn of democratic elections. A choice bit of opposition research, deployed at an opportune moment, can be a decisive factor in a close election. So it should come as little surprise that supporters of a Republican candidate went to work building a file on Donald Trump during the party primaries or that Democrats took the baton as the general election geared up. Whats unusual and what will pique the interest of investigators and fuel the suspicions of conservatives is that after the election, once Hillary Clinton was defeated, the FBI would pick up funding for this investigation. A topic as sensitive as this allegations of foreign influence on a presidential campaign doesnt seem like something the US government should be outsourcing. There have been plenty of accusations, on both sides of ideological divide, that the FBI has become politicised. Stories like this wont help diminish those concerns. In fact, they will almost certainly be cited to undermine the results of ongoing inquiries into Mr Trumps possible Russia ties, whether or not the eventual findings have a connection to this now-infamous dossier. The DNC said its new leadership had nothing to do with creation of the dossier. A spokeswoman told the Washington Post, which broke the story: 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. Some of Mr Steeles allegations began circulating in Washington in the summer of 2016 as the FBI began looking into whether there were any links between Trump aides and the Kremlin. Special counsel Robert Mueller and several congressional panels are investigating the same alleged connections, but to date have found no evidence. Governments Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) Policy must prioritise agricultural modernization as the sure way to help improve the livelihoods of farmers, a lecturer at the Biotechnology Center of the University of Ghana has said. Dr Daniel Dzidzienyo observed that challenges that the agricultural sector faces including climate change and low remuneration among farmers can only be dealt with if science and technology are imbibed into work on the farms. In Ghana, about 60 percent of the population is engaged in agriculture but we cant feed ourselvesA significant number of Ghanaians go to bed hungry. There is a lot of poverty. Farmers dont get the needed returns for their labour and investment. "About five percent of the population are food insecure. Partly because farmers rely on unimproved seeds. Climate change isn't helping the situation any further, said Dr Dzidzienyo who is also an associate faculty member at the West Africa Center for Crop Improvement (WACCI). Government launched the PFJ policy earlier this year, announcing it will be hinged on five main pillars. They are provision of improved seeds, the supply of fertilisers, provision of extension services, improved marketing strategies and the use of e-Agriculture. The programme aims to increase maize production by 30 percent, rice by 49 percent, soybeans by 25 percent and sorghum by 28 percent. Dr. Dzidzienyo said assurances from government that the PFJ policy will prioritize technology is an indication that Ghana is ready to accept innovation in the Agric sector. Earlier this year, government launched the PFJ policy We need to modernize agriculture to improve the lives of rural dwellers. Increase productivity, alleviate poverty and end hunger. "The environment in Ghana is conducive to embrace modern technology. This is important so we are not left behind, Dr. Dzidzienyo said during a panel discussion at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences of Cornell University in the USA. The discussion which was moderated by Director of the Alliance for Science Sarah Davidson Evanega was under the theme: Can biotechnology play a role in the development of Africa? Nigerian journalist Nkechi Isaac who was on the panel said: there has been a dip in the price of oil and that led Nigeria into deep recession...the government is looking at diversifying and there is no way we can go into agriculture without modernising. If we are going to feed the population, we need biotechnology to boost agriculture. Arkson Mwanza, an Agric Extension specialist from Zambia expressed concern about the huge food import bill in Africa despite the vast available fertile land. Philibert Nyinondi, a researcher at the Sokoine University of Agriculture in Tanzania noted the need for access to improved seeds to help increase yields in his country as well. He said farmers are yearning for such technologies. Farmers in Tanzania visited Burkina Faso and realised that the cotton there is doing so well, and they jumped on the seeds...If we have technology that can save the lives of millions and we can give it to them. Why are we here discussing whether Africa will accept it? he noted. Story by Ghana| Myjoyonline.com | Joseph Opoku Gakpo| Joy News Former President John Mahama has been lauded by the newly crowned winner of the prestigious World Food Prize award Dr Akinwumi Adesina for supporting his career. Dr. Adesina who is currently President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) was on Thursday decorated as winner of the 2017 World Food Prize which has been described as the agricultural worlds version of the Nobel Peace Prize at a colourful ceremony in Iowa State, USA. Dr. Adesina was awarded for being an innovator in funding and financing of African agriculture. He becomes the sixth African to win the prize, joining a list of distinguished personalities including former President John Agyekum Kufuor who was jointly awarded with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in 2011. The prize which was started by veteran American Agriculturalist and acclaimed father of the Green Revolution Norman Bourlang is the foremost international honour in agriculture that recognizes achievements of individuals who have advanced human development by improving the quality, quantity or availability of food in the world. The World Food Prize Foundation noted that through his roles over the past two decades with the Rockefeller Foundation, Alliance for a Green Revolution (AGRA) and Nigerian Agric Ministry, Dr. Adesina has been at the forefront of expanding agricultural production and exponentially increasing the availability of credit for smallholder farmers across the African continent. Receiving the prize, Dr. Adesina acknowledged a tall list of persons who have helped him achieve the big feet including former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan who he served under, and added: And of course, sitting right here, is President John Mahama who has supported me so much over the years. World Food Prize award winner, Dr Akinwumi Adesina He predicted that Africa will in the next few years overcome the problem of hunger on the continent. We will arise and feed Africa. A day is coming very soon when the barns of Africa will be filled and all her children will be well fed when millions of farmers will be able to send their kids to school.. Dr. Adesina said. He walked away with a 250,000 dollar prize money which he promised to use to further boost funding for agriculture. There will be no rest for me until Africa is able to feed itself And so, I hereby commit my 250,000 dollars as a cash prize for the WFP award to set up a fund fully dedicated to providing financing for the youth of Africa in agriculture to feed Africa, he said. Addressing a media briefing after the award ceremony, Dr. Adesina noted a lot more needs to be done to revolutionarise the agricultural sector in Africa. As president of AfdB, I recognize that we have to rapidly raise the productivity of agriculture in Africa if we are going to be competitive in the world, he said. Former President Mahama participated in the event alongside former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo as special guests of honour. President of World Food Prize Foundation, Kenneth Quinn during his speech acknowledged Mr. Mahamas presence. Please carry back our greetings to your countryman, our 2011 laureate, former president John Kufuor, he said. US Vice President Mike Pence in a letter to Dr. Adesina commended him for his role in helping develop Africas Agric sector. Your devotion to the cause of fighting global hunger is admirable and deeply needed. As the global food system is stretched and the need to feed more people grows, agricultural transformation will require persistence from leaders like you in driving change and capitalizing on public and private sector expertise, the letter said. On behalf of President Donald Trump, I extend my heartfelt congratulations as you receive this important award Thank you for your commitment and contributions to making the world a better place, Mr. Pence concluded. With an unsettling frankness, an investigative report into the electoral defeat of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2016 polls has described the partys collation machine as a complete mess, to put it simply and bluntly The Prof Kwesi Botchwey Committee report said the then governing NDC could not independently ascertain for itself the polling station results because its collation system was doomed to fail. The size of the failure saw the NDC suffer the worst defeat in its history with its candidate garnering 44.4% of the votes, the lowest for a sitting president. The NPP was swept into power by a 53.8% of the votes with a majority in parliament unseen since it was formed in 1992. The defeat has left the NDC in what one of its flagbearer hopefuls, Alban Bagbin has described, as the five stages of grief -denial, anger, bargaining, depression and finally acceptance. Arguably Ghanas most sought-after political document detailing reasons for the NDCs defeat, the Prof Botchwey report is to help the party look at the man in the mirror. In one example, the report said there were two parallel systems the party-based system and the Ofosu Kwakye-based system. Both were rivals and both were underfunded, the report said on page 50. For instance, in the Northern region, 250 phones were sent there to cover the collation from 11,000 polling stations. Highly inadequate logistics meant the polling agents had to physically transport the pink sheets to the collation center or use their own phones. In effect, the report leaked to the media said, there is an inescapable conclusion that the party had no way of obtaining election results in real time. But this reality did not stop Deputy NDC General Secretary, Koku Anyidoho, from announcing at a press conference held while collation was going on that the party was in a comfortable lead and later cruising to victory. But the results were cruising into then opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) collation center, whose state was in sharp contrast to that of the NDC. The NPP system headed by a NASA scientist Joe Anokye was complimented by fast speed internet, fax machines, computers, laptops. Polling agents were reportedly resourced enough to relay results at breakneck speed. In effect, the NPP declared victory in Central, Western and other regions more than 36 hours before the EC finally announced results. The report quoting the words of a stakeholder who is best placed to judge, said the party was simply caught flat-footed. The investigate report indicated that on election day, some party members saw it as an opportunity to revenge wrong done them by other leaders. The 13-member committee said in the report that effective collation depends on organisation, human resource and technology three qualities which were found wanting in the famed NDC election machine. It called for the use of lawyers, intelligence officers in addition to party activists in the collation of results in the next general elections in 2020. The report is titled voice of the people but former Communications Minister, Dr Omane Boamah has suggested this is not the voice of the people because the copy intercepted by Joy News has not been authenticated by the party. -Myjoyonline Meanwile some 31 members of the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly, have requested a general Assembly meeting in accordance with Order 17 (3) of the Standing Orders of District, Municipal and Metropolitan Assemblies of Ghana, to enable them pass a vote of no confidence in the MCE, Iddrisu Musah, also known as Musah Superior. The aggrieved Assembly Members in a letter to the Presiding Member, copied to the Coordinating Director and sighted by citifmonline.com, notified them of their resolution to pass a vote of no confidence in the MCE, explaining that they have lost confidence him, hence the need for a general assembly meeting to initiate his removal from office. The Assembly Members explained that, their reasons for the MCE's removal, are that, he has been awarding contracts without due process, and also disregards and disrespects them. They further accused him of taking critical decisions without prior approval of the Assembly, and lying or withholding information from the Assembly members, and by extension from the people of Tamale. They also alleged that, he mismanages the Assembly's meagre resources, by appointing two personal assistants to himself, paying each of them Ghc1, 400 a month. He is also accused of constituting and paying a 61-member non-functional Task-force which cost the Assembly Ghc9, 150 a month. When citifmonline.com contacted the Assembly members who appended their signatures to the resolution, majority of them confirmed the decision. citifmonline.com sources at the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly revealed that, the aggrieved members on Wednesday October 25, 2017, met and resolved not to back down their protest. The Tamale Metropolitan Assembly has 60 Assembly members including 18 government appointees and two MPs for Tamale South and Tamale Central. However, the two MPs are ex-officio members. In effect, the undersigned signatories of 31 members, can form a quorum to pass a vote of no confidence in the MCE. 26.10.2017 LISTEN Multimedia Group Limited journalist Joseph Opoku Gakpo will on Thursday speak at Ivy League institution, Cornell University about the recent Fall Armyworm Invasion in Africa. The award-winning journalist will be speaking at the Environmental Justice Series organized by environment focused group, Cornell Environmental Collaborative and Ghanaians at Cornell on the campus of the school located in Ithaca New York State USA. Two Joy News Hotline documentaries produced by the reporter, Rampaging Soldiers and Poison on the Menu, will be screened at the event. Rampaging Soldiers which was aired in August this year on JOYNEWS on MultiTV discusses the spread of Fall Armyworm (a pest native to America which was first detected in Africa last year) on farms across Ghana. It also focused on the dependence on pesticides to deal with them. Poison on the Menu tells the story of increasing cases of food poisoning as a result of the misuse of chemicals. The event is under the theme: Fighting Invasive Pests on African Farms: Are there alternatives to chemical application? After the documentaries are screened, the students will host Joseph Opoku Gakpo and other experts from Tanzania and Uganda for a discussion on possible alternatives to deal with the pests. The panel will also discuss how to sustain a healthy food chain in Africa, even in the light of the fall armyworm invasion. Clet Masiga, a Research Scientist at the Tropical Institute of Development Innovations in Uganda and Philibert Nyinondi, a Researcher at the Sokoine University of Agriculture in Tanzania will be the other discussants. Organisers of the event could not hide their excitement about the upcoming event. A lot of students here are environmentally conscious and so its going to be great I think we are going to have a good turn out, Nana Britwum, Co-President of Ghanaians at Cornell said ahead of the event. In a lot of my classes we talk about innovative pest management and it always seem like something taking place in the Western world you dont hear a lot about people in developing countries trying to combat heavy use of chemicals. It will be good to hear about whats happening on the other side, Ms. Britwum added. Clay Davis, Vice President of Environmental Justice at Cornell Environmental Collaborative noted it will be a good learning experience for students. In my position here I am very interested in getting the broader Cornell community not only interested in these environmental justice issues around the world but also interested in how we can mobilize and help orient them towards developing solutions, he explained. There are a lot of students with interest in environmental issues but dont have as much exposure to information thats coming from a lot of the places and so fostering this connection is really helpful, he added. 26.10.2017 LISTEN Mr Daniel Ogbarmey Tetteh, the Director-General of the Ghana Securities Exchange Commission (SEC), has called on the investor community to have confidence in the instruments of the Capital Market. He said the Capital Market was critical in the growth and development of any given economy. Mr Tetteh said this in an interview during the launch of the Ghana Securities Industry Association (GSIA's), Capital Market Week celebration from October 21-28, 2017. The event is on the theme: 'The Safety and Security of Ghana's Financial Market.' GSIA is a self-regulatory and non-profit membership organization of firms regulated by the SEC. Mr Tetteh said the Commission was looking forward for a strong Capital Market operation to continue to boost investor confidence. He said SEC would continue to strengthen the regulatory status of the Association for effective control of members. Mr Reginald France, President of GSIA, said the event was held annually to create investor awareness on the Capital Market. He said the event would also have the opportunity to engage with the policy makers and stakeholders to dialogue on how to address some of the challengers in the industry. Mrs Marian Mensah, Head of Capital Market, Ministry of Finance said government would continue to support the Capital Market with favourable policies. She commended the Management of GSIA for putting the programmes together to create the awareness on the Capital Market. Dr Adu Anane Antwi, Former Director-General of SEC encouraged the Association to strive for excellence in the industry. 'I want them to continue with the Capital Market quiz nationwide,' he said. Some of the activities planned for the week include Financial Literacy Education on Radio and Television, Capital Market Seminar, Capital Market Debate Programme for five Tertiary Institutions, Industry Awards Dinner and Special awards for GSIA Founding Members. GNA By Morkporkpor Anku, GNA Mr Abdulai Issaka, a Lecturer Department of Marketing, Valley View University, has asked the youth, especially Muslims to create a positive mind-set needed to succeed as entrepreneurs. He said this was necessary as unemployment still remains one of the biggest challenges faced by the country and therefore needed al hands on deck to come out with good initiatives to make them succeed in life. Mr Issaka was speaking at the 50th anniversary ceremony of the Ghana Muslim Mission Youth (GMMY) in Accra on the theme 'Unity and Capacity Building in the Development of the Muslim Youth.' The Lecturer said the world was changing at a faster pace and the only way out was to churn out entrepreneurs who would change the face of the country and the economy by creating more jobs. Mr Issaka noted that opportunities abound in the entrepreneurial sector but cautioned that, it involves challenges and needed people who are consistent and willing to stand the test of time to make it in the field. 'Entrepreneurship, innovation and creativity are not the preserve of the developed world but for everyone; one needs the mind-set of an entrepreneur to be able to tap into the advantages,' he stated. He therefore encouraged the youth to always have a clear and achievable vision when an idea comes to mind, and note that resources needed to start an initiative are not under their control. He said to be able to achieve success one must have a level of self-motivation, the willingness to take calculated risk, be willing to listen to others, have lack of fear of failure and the willingness to work hard. These, according to Mr Issaka would enable the youth especially the Muslim youth triumph and create an economy full of jobs. He said one's academic prowess and intelligence are not the necessities for success in life but rather a proper mind-set towards entrepreneurship was the key and urged all to adopt the initiative. 'You can do it so just give it a try,' he said. Dr Sheikh Amin Bonsu, the National Chairman of the Ghana Muslim Mission urged the youth to use their youthfulness to continue affirm their belief in Allah. 'Make sure you do your ibada and through your Jihad propagate the dean because that is what makes you grow in the sight of the almighty Allah,' he said. He also advised the youth to stand in unity by mobilising themselves to enable them achieve success in this world and the hereafter. Mr Mohammed Abdul Bashiru, a Graduate and an Entrepreneur, also advised the youth to always have faith in whatever they embark on and also conduct halal businesses for Allah to bless their efforts. 'Keep your morals high and be trust worthy, these he said are the fundamentals for having successful businesse's. At least six soldiers were killed in heavy fighting when Boko Haram raided a military base and looted food from villagers in northeast Nigeria, the military and locals said on Wednesday. Jihadists in six pick-up trucks stormed the base in Sasawa village, some 45 kilometres (28 miles) from the Yobe state capital, Damaturu, at about 5:00 pm on Tuesday. Colonel Kayode Ogunsanya told AFP from Damaturu: "There was an attack by Boko Haram terrorists on a military location in Sasawa village which led to casualties on both sides." He gave no further details but a local chief in the area said: "Six soldiers died in the attack along with several Boko Haram fighters. "Heavy fighting broke out and continued till midnight," he said on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. "When the gunmen realised they would be subdued, they sent for reinforcements and more fighters arrived in three trucks." They overran the base, forcing the soldiers to withdraw. Rebel fighters then moved into the village, which had been deserted by residents to escape the fighting. Another local resident, Aisami Gremah, supported the chief's account. He added: "They (Boko Haram) loaded grains from the recent harvest into the pick-up trucks and moved towards Kareto and Magumeri in neighbouring Borno state." Crops that had been left out to dry on farms outside nearby Tungushe village were set on fire, he said. Boko Haram attacks on military bases were a frequent tactic as the group gained in size and strength, using the weapons and ammunition seized to capture swathes of territory in the northeast in 2013 and 2014. But such attacks and hit-and-run raids on remote villages have drastically reduced in Yobe state since the start of a military counter-offensive in early 2015, which the government maintains has left the jihadists a spent force. Sporadic attacks are still a feature of the conflict, which has claimed at least 20,000 lives and made more than 2.6 million homeless since 2009. In February the jihadists attacked the same military base in Sasawa, killing two civilians. In August, two livestock traders were killed and three others were seriously wounded after they triggered a landmine as they fled a Boko Haram ambush. In Borno state, civilians remain vulnerable from suicide attacks: on Sunday, 14 people were killed in a triple bomb attack in the state capital, Maiduguri. There has also been a spate of attacks against the military since the end of the rainy season in September. On October 18, at least three soldiers were killed when Boko Haram fighters ambushed a military convoy near the Borno town of Damboa. On October 13, one soldier was killed and nine others were wounded in an attack on a military base in the town of Marte, near the shores of Lake Chad. 26.10.2017 LISTEN Dear Substantive and Deputy Minister for Women, Gender and Social Protection, I have no doubt in my mind, that by now, news has reached you of the sad incident of a 4-year old rape in Assin Adadientem. By the way it's about a week now since its occurrence. Firstly, I am quite appalled that with such loud public outcry, your Ministry has not been out to (a) acknowledged the incident (b) assure the public that the matter will and is being dealt with (c) procure immediate physical and psychological relief for the suffering child, her mother and family (d) immediately assert a long term agenda to deal with this matter of incessant rapes once and for all. Madams, don't forgive me for sounding so blunt, but 24hrs after media and public outcry and no show from you - tells a lot that your department is either ineffective, dormant or at best a reflection of the fact that you just don't care. To God I hope it is NOT the latter. That said, I did ponder as am sure many did - would this incidence have been known to you if the media hadn't broken it out? If not, how many more of such are going undetected especially in areas where no police or hospital facilities exist? Can you really answer this? I wish to clarify a few things. You see, the elements of your Ministry's name play out very clearly in this matter: MINISTRY for WOMEN: A woman, no, two women were affected by this tragic incidence - the mother whose daughter was assaulted and now bears the brunt of guilt for trying to juggle her hash responsibilities to her children and to her community. She now has to live with the guilt of both. It should matter to you. The other woman is the yet-to-be-woman in that 4-year old, whose future ability to blossom through no fault of hers now faces the greatest challenges of self-defeat, self-hate, and self-condemnation. Through no fault of hers, a lifetime scar of society's failure condemns her. It should matter to you enough to have acted swiftly - you are a woman too. Or are you not? MINISTRY for GENDER: Gender has suffered in all of this and past incidences. And before you jump the gun, let me clarify - the longstanding battle to defeat the vulnerability to which the female gender has been subjected to for years has just taken another bashing. This should have concerned you. Sadly too, the good men who are now willing to talk against the actions of their fellow bad men will also now be potentially lumped in a basket full of bad men and bashed together. It may not matter much, but it affects the wholesome fight against gender discrimination - it should matter to you as a Ministry level Policy Person. Or are you not?? MINISTRY for SOCIAL PROTECTION: The sad incident has happened. It is NOT the first. Maybe you both need to be reminded: each time these incidences surface, they are an indication that a larger number of children, girls, women and boys are under threats of suffering the same fate and for which reason the only face-saving we can derive if any at all from not having prevented wrongs done to the current victims, is that others who are equally vulnerable are PROTECTED. That should have mattered to you enough to act swiftly, or didn't it? MY SUGGESTIONs: I know when you "come around" you will hurriedly do the usual political face-saving show of having a press conference, paying the victims a visit and condemning the act. TOO LATE!! But at least you can have a few things done to improve long term deterrence: (1) I have toyed with the idea but best your Ministry handles it. Please build a website on which a profile of all past and future sex offenders can be accessed by public; clearly marked as convicted, accused, arrested, etc with time frames within which the profiles are finally taken off. You may need a statutory backing of sort, to protect your department. (2) Work with the hospitals, Police and others to institute an Fasttrack DNA testing procedure for victims without bureaucracy: (3) It's about time your Ministry puts together an act before parliament for all institutions in Ghana to sign up to and adopt Sexual Harrasment Policies. Once passed this and others must become part of company registration and annual filing procedures; (4) If you haven't already, have at least district hotlines that ALL victims can call and get immediate fastrack processing for hospital, psychological and arrest support. These numbers must be advertised to every woman and taught to every girl child in every school; (5) Finally and as daring as it may sound it JUST might be a right time for you to boldly put a draft legislation before parliament that requires suspects to be immediately detained for 24 hours at least to facilitatate DNA tests etc and released if no connections are immediately established. Madams, let me end here but before I do, let me just say this - I am taking this VERY PERSONAL because I have girl children too. I give you my solemn word of honour, that if you don't act, I guarantee you, I and many good meaning Ghanaians will. My gentlemanly advise - try hard not to let that happen Respectfully, Marricke Kofi Gane In Madagascar, ceremonies in which families exhume the remains of dead relatives, rewrap them in fresh cloth and dance with the corpses are a sacred ritual. But an outbreak of plague sweeping the Indian Ocean island nation has prompted warnings that the macabre spectacle, known as the turning of the bones or body turning, presents a serious risk of contamination. On a recent baking hot Saturday in Ambohijafy, a village outside the capital Antananarivo, a "turning" procession snaked through the streets in a fevered carnival atmosphere bound for the cemetery. For the community's few hundred residents, the time for "famadihana" -- the local name for the ceremony -- had arrived. The unique custom, originating among communities that live in Madagascar's high plateaux, draws crowds every winter to honour the dead and to honour their mortal wishes. "It's one of Madagascar's most widespread rituals," historian Mahery Andrianahag told AFP. "It's necessary to assure cosmic harmony... it satisfies our desire to respect and honour the ancestors so that they can be blessed and one day return." A plague outbreak sweeping Madagascar has prompted warnings that the ritual, known as the turning of the bones, presents a contamination risk At the head of the procession, 18-year-old Andry Nirina Andriatsitohaina eagerly awaited the big moment as a uniformed band played on loud trumpets. "I am extremely proud to go to rewrap the bones of my grandmother and all of our ancestors. I will ask them for blessings and success in my school leavers' exams," he said. 'Ask for blessings' In front of the family mausoleum, the assembled men dug into the earth and opened the tomb's door as women and children looked on. One by one, the wrapped remains were carried out into the open and carefully placed on a mat where they were rewrapped, or "turned" in the new shrouds. Oly Ralalarisoa, 45, was overcome with emotion. People in Madagascar believe the ritual honours their dead relatives, who can be "turned" every five, seven or nine years "I am so happy to be able to exhume my great-great-great-grandfather. It means that their descendants can ask for blessings for the next nine years." Relatives invite all their fellow villagers to attend the ceremony and to take part in the procession as well as musical and food festivities, but the wrapping of the body is a purely family affair. The dead may be "turned" more than once but only every five, seven or nine years, and can be wrapped in several shrouds if different parts of the family or loved ones want to honour them. 'Fulfil my duty' Close by, Isabel Malala Razafindrakoto had tears in her eyes as she held the wrapped body of her son, who died aged just three years old. "I'm happy to once again see my son and to fulfil my duty," she said. For Madagascans, the famadihana ceremony is an intense celebration accompanied by music, dancing and singing, fuelled by alcoholic drinks The customary ritual, rather than a religious rite, can be shocking for some, but for those taking part, it is an intense celebration accompanied by music, dancing and singing, fuelled by alcoholic drinks. As the gathering in the Ambohijafy cemetery drew to a close, the bodies were carefully returned to their resting places after one last dance. As soon as the ritual was over, the mats on which the bodies were laid were pulled up. Veteran participants will store them under their mattresses until the next famadihana. Looking after the mats is often seen in Madagascar as bringing good luck. But some doctors warn that they can also transmit germs and infections. And, at a time when Madagascar is enduring its most lethal outbreak of the plague in years, the practice of body turning has raised fears among health officials. Since August, the disease has infected more than 1,100 people, with 124 deaths. Officials this week cautiously welcomed a slowdown in infections. Digging up the plague? Health ministry epidemiologists have long observed that plague season coincides with the period when famadihana ceremonies are held from July to October. The ceremony sees the wrapped remains carried out into the open and carefully placed on a mat where they are rewrapped, or "turned" in the new shrouds "If a person dies of pneumonic plague and is then interred in a tomb that is subsequently opened for a famadihana, the bacteria can still be transmitted and contaminate whoever handles the body," said Willy Randriamarotia, the health ministry chief of staff. To limit the danger, rules dictate that plague victims cannot be buried in a tomb that can be reopened and instead their remains must be held in an anonymous mausoleum. But the local media have reported several cases of bodies being exhumed covertly. Despite the serious risks publicised by the authorities, few in Madagascar question the turning ceremonies. "I don't want to imagine the dead like forgotten objects. They gave us life," said Helene Raveloharisoa, a regular at the ritual. "I will always practise the turning of the bones of my ancestors -- plague or no plague. The plague is a lie." To limit the risk posed by the plague, victims cannot be buried in a tomb that can be reopened and must be held in an anonymous mausoleum Josephine Ralisiarisoa was even more strident in her view that the plague risk had been exaggerated. "The government in power is short of money for the next presidential poll (in 2018), so they invent things to get cash from lenders," said Ralisiarisoa. "I have participated in at least 15 famadihana ceremonies in my life. And I've never caught the plague." Five nations in Africa's Sahel region are progressively deploying a counter-terror force to combat jihadist groups but the project will be vulnerable during its fledgling stage, diplomats and military sources say. The so-called "G5 Sahel" states are some of the world's poorest and least developed nations, comprising Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger. Spread across largely tough, desert terrain, the G5's counter-terror force will launch its first operation against jihadists at the end of October, codenamed "Buffalo" in a local language according to official documents seen by AFP, with several more planned. At the new force's military headquarters in Sevare, central Mali, Commander Didier Dacko is highly aware of vulnerabilities linked to incomplete troop numbers and a funding gap. "This joint force is newborn," said Dacko, a Malian general, speaking during a visit last week by a UN Security Council delegation to the yellow and pink buildings of the HQ. "It needs support to grow," he added. Its activities will be initially confined to Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, where weak central governments have little reach in isolated areas, and tensions between nomadic herding communities and farmers have led to recent bloody clashes. Persuading communities in these areas to drop support for jihadists, who in some cases have taken on a quasi-state-like role, would also be key, Dacko said. In the early days of the force's existence, strategy will be centred on "taking back control of border areas," where attacks occur regularly as domestic troops cannot enter another nation's territory, Dacko said. The force has specifically addressed this problem by allowing personnel to operate across the five nations' borders, as long as prior notice of entry is given. Border focus The region's jihadist problem is persistent and getting worse: one attack in Niger's restive southwest, which borders Mali, killed 13 paramilitary police on Saturday. That followed a deadly ambush on a joint US-Niger patrol that has thrown the United States' growing involvement in African counter-terror policy into the spotlight. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres says there has been an increase of more than 100 percent in attacks against UN peacekeepers, Malian troops and French forces since June And earlier this month, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres reported an increase of more than 100 percent in attacks against UN peacekeepers, Malian troops and French forces since June. The estimated budget for the force's first year of operations is tentatively estimated at 423 million euros ($499 million), but so far only 108 million euros have been raised, almost half from the European Union. The force will eventually comprise seven battalions, two apiece for Mali and Niger, and one for each of the other nations, with a total capacity of 5,000 men. Command posts will be set up in Mauritania, Niger and Chad, representing the force in key western, central and eastern locations respectively, with Niger's already in service. International support The vast Sahel region has turned into a hotbed of violent extremism and lawlessness since chaos engulfed Libya in 2011, Islamists overran northern Mali in 2012 and as Boko Haram has spread its tentacles across the Lake Chad region. The Security Council visit to Sevare is therefore a measure of how badly the international community wants the region to progress on its own by establishing a sustainable solution for counter-terror with its own troops. Mali already has a UN peacekeeping mission, known by the acronym MINUSMA, and France has its own 4,000-strong Barkhane force deployed across the Sahel, but the G5 nations announced the long-discussed force would become a reality in February. The Sahel's active foreign missions are wary of the force's vulnerability in its first active stages, when troop numbers are sub-optimal. The UN's Guterres has put forward four options to back the force, including setting up a United Nations support office in the Sahel and sharing resources from the 13,000-strong peacekeeping mission in Mali. He has recommended extra financial backing for equipment including heavily reinforced vehicles and observation capacities, including drones. The force's main backer in the United Nations, France, has urged Europe and the US to show moral and financial support for the initiative, and placed it top of its priorities in the world body for October. A ministerial-level meeting on support for the force will be held at the UN on October 30, while a donors' conference is scheduled for December 16 in Brussels. Citi FM will from today [Thursday] October 26, 2017, host the ten finalists of the Literacy Challenge, who will be competing for the ultimate reward of Ghc10, 000 among other prizes. The finalists will be camped at the plush Swiss Spirit Hotel & Suites Alisa in Accra from today [Thursday] till Saturday, when the final event, a quiz competition, will be held at the same venue to crown the winner. Activities lined-up for camping The students will participate in various fun activities in and outside the hotel within the period. The activities will also include an industry tour of Milky Magc, producers of biscuits and various milk products. They will also be taken through a mentorship session by Michael Ohene-Effah, an International Development Consultant, who will among others, teach the children how they can become great leaders in future by building self-confidence. Madam Eugenia Tachie-Menson, Country Director of the Young Educators Foundation, the organization that organises the National Spelling Bee competition, will also take the kids through an exercise that will improve their vocabulary and grammar. Mrs. Funmi Onuma, Country Manager, Silverbird Group, where they will be watching a movie on Thursday night at the Accra Mall, will also take them through the Importance of Reading. Mr. George Nkonsah, Area Business Development Manager, BIC Ghana Cluster, one of the sponsors of the event, will take the kids through the art of thinking on your feet. They will also be allowed to undergo some personal reflections, after which they will spend some time with the Quiz Mistress, Ms. Yaba Haffar, an Educationist, before the grand finale quiz competition itself at 10:00am on Saturday. Out of the 10 contestants, eight are from schools in the Greater Accra Region, whereas the other two are from schools in Brong Ahafo and Upper West Regions respectively. The ten are those who scored highest in Level II [an aptitude test] of the competition, which was organized on Saturday [October 21] at the British Council in Accra. The contestants, who made it to Level II, were among 50 students from various schools across the country, who wrote the aptitude test on Saturday. Prior to the aptitude test, all 50 students received 500 cedis each, a certificate, and a medal for making it to level II of the contest. About the Literacy Challenge The Literacy Challenge was launched on July 19, 2017, for JHS students in Ghana to write and suggest to the president how to make Accra the cleanest city in Africa. After the entries were submitted, external examiners marked the scripts and selected the top 50 who went to the British Council to write the aptitude test. The Literacy Challenge is sponsored by BIC Pen, Milky Magic Biscuit, Cowbell and Slydepay. Below is the list of the 10 finalists: 1. Krystyn Naa Adoley Bruce, Christ the King Int. School, Greater Accra 2. Lloyd Akresi, Acropolis Maranatha Academy, Greater Accra 3. Nyameye A.A. Obeng-Akuamoah, Kay-Billie-Klaer Int. School, Greater Accra 4. Maame Safoa Quashie, Yahweh Int. School, Greater Accra 5. Nicole Chinery, Sap's School, Greater Accra 6. Hawa Haruna Attah, Unique Child School, Greater Accra 7. Patience Thompson, Unique Child School, Greater Accra 8. Manasseh Sampana Nam-Mahime, Ringway Estate Basic School, Greater Accra 9. Samuel Opoku Boakye-Yeboah, Holy Spirit Junior High School, Sunyani, Brong Ahafo Region 10. Konian Isaac, Don-Ibu Int. School, Wa, Upper West Region By: Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie/citifmonline.com/Ghana Critics of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), and its apparent indulgence of violent and lawless elements within its fold, were given more ammunition on Wednesday, when rampaging NPP youth invaded a police station and freed some party communicators who were in police custody. The District Chief Executive of Karaga, Alhassan Yabdoo, allegedly caused the arrest of some NPP communicators sparking the outrage and the eventual attack on the police station. This continued the trend of brazen outbursts of chaos from groups aligned to the NPP in the wake of the party's 2016 election victory. The incidents reported began on smaller scales, with seizing of toll booths and public toilets, normally witnessed after the change of power from the National Democratic Congress to the NPP and vice versa. These incidents escalated to assaults on police personnel and state institutions, and reached a zenith of lawlessness when NPP members sparked chaos in the court of law, and freed their compatriots, standing trial for raiding the Ashanti Regional Security Council, and assaulting the Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator. The commitment of the government was called into question when the heftiest sanction meted out to the offenders in the saga was a fine, despite an action that undermined the authority of the executive and the judiciary. The State said there was not enough evidence to prosecute the Delta Force members who raided the court. Those who assaulted the Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator were only sentenced to a fine of Ghc1,800 each, and made to sign a bond of good behaviour after they were charged with rioting. Casualties have been minimal in all the reported cases, but instances of assault have been recorded, with some acts also bordering on armed robbery. State agencies and processes have been held to ransom with school feeding caterers, hospital administrators and presidential appointees bearing the brunt of the wrath of rampaging NPP members. These acts of lawlessness are seemingly fueled by a sense of entitlement or frustration informed by precedent and promises made politicians to them ahead of the elections. Some of the notable instances of lawlessness by NPP members are listed below: December 12, 2016: Alleged NPP supporters take over Tema Motorway toll booth Irate youth believed to be supporters of the NPP illegally took over the Tema Motorway toll booth and chased away the officially designated toll collectors. They then began illegally taking the tolls themselves. December 13, 2017: Two alleged NPP supporters arrested for attempting to seize toilet facilities Two persons believed to be supporters of the NPP were arrested for attempting to seize toilet facilities within the Kumasi metropolis. The two were part of a gang that stormed Ash town in Kumasi to take over the management of public toilets in the area. These actions occurred a few hours after Nana Akufo-Addo was declared the winner in the December 7 elections. January 9, 2017: Policeman at Flagstaff House assaulted by Invincible Forces member Footage emerged showing the NPPs Invincible Forces assaulting a police officer at the Flagstaff House for allegedly keeping state vehicles. The video showed the private security detail of the NPP forcing out the State security personnel, ASP Bruce Nanka, amid efforts by other police officers to restore order. January 10, 2017: NPP youth lockup NHIS office in Bodi NPP youth in the Bodi District of the Western Region besieged and locked up the office of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in the area. Confirming the incident to Citi News, the Member of Parliament for the area, Sampson Ahi, said the suspects put the office under lock and key and injured the manager of the Scheme in the district. January 13, 2017: NPP chairman arrested over illegal seizure of toll booth The Amasaman Divisional Police Command arrested the NPP Constituency Chairman for Trobu, Kwame Ofosu Agyei, for attempting to take over activities at the Doblo toll booth. According to Police, the constituency chairman was arrested for forcibly entering the toll booth and threatening to take over revenue collection. He is also accused of assaulting a police officer who was on duty at the time. January 13, 2017: Five arrested for seizing AMA tolls, assaulting collector The Accra Regional Police command arrested five people at CMB and Makola Markets in Accra, for preventing revenue collectors from issuing toll tickets to traders. The suspects allegedly seized toll tickets, assaulted the Accra Metropolitan Assembly Revenue Collectors and also collected cash to the sum of GHc 2,000 from them. January 14, 2017: NPP supporters take over public toilets in Koforidua NPP supporters in the New Juaben North and South Constituencies in the Eastern Region have forcibly taken over the operations of public toilets in the municipality. The NPP activists took over the operation of all the public toilets in the municipality the midnight after Nana Akufo-Addo was sworn into office as the President of Ghana. February 22, 2017: NPP's Kandahar Boys 'torment' Tamale Teaching Hospital CEO Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH), Dr. Prosper Akambong was unable to effect his duties after his office was locked up by a popular vigilante group affiliated to the NPP, the Kandahar Boys group. The group's action was in protest against the CEO's alleged mismanagement of the facility. March 25, 2017: NPP's Delta Force attack Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator The NPPs Delta Force in Kumasi stormed the premises of the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council, demanding the removal of the Regional Security Coordinator, George Adjei. The rowdy group destroyed some properties and forced the Security Coordinator out of his office. The group said it could not work with him because he did not contribute to the party's electoral success. March 30, 2017: Invisible Forces attack school feeding caterers in Atebubu The NPPs, Invincible Forces attacked the pupils and teachers of Atecoe Demonstration Basic School in Atebubu in the Brong Ahafo Region. The teachers and pupils of the school had to run for their lives when the men stormed the school premises to attack caterers of the School Feeding Programme. They also destroyed cooking utensils belonging to the caterers. April 3, 2017: NPP's Invincible forces allegedly lock up Eastern Regional NHIS office About 20 heavy built men believed to be members of the NPP Invincible Forces besieged the offices of the Eastern Regional National Health Insurance Scheme, and forcibly locked the office of the Regional Manager. They claim they cannot work with the Regional Manager, whom they allege is an outsider and not part of the NPP. The Invincible Forces who besieged the office also demanded some documents from the staff of the scheme. April 6, 2017: NPP Delta Force storms court; set suspects free Members of the Delta Force stormed the Kumasi Circuit Court and freed the members of their group who were facing charges for causing disturbances at the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council. The group vandalized some court properties, and almost assaulted the Judge, Mary Senkyire after she had ruled that their counterparts be remanded after charges of conspiracy to assault a public officer and causing unlawful damage. June 15, 2017: NPP youth clash with police in Savelugu over MCE position Some irate youth of the governing NPP were engaged in a standoff with police at the premises of the Savelugu/Nantong municipal assembly complex. The youth locked up the main entrance to the building, following a security escort for the MCE, Hajia Ayishetu Seidu to her office, who was under fire from the members and prevented from accessing her office for weeks. Armed security personnel dispatched to maintain law and order, were compelled to fire warning shots to bring the situation under control. July 25, 2017: 'Unemployed' NPP youth seize contractor's equipment over jobs Youth who claim to be supporters of New Patriotic Party (NPP) have stopped construction work on the Yendi-Bimbilla section of the Eastern Corridor roads demanding immediate employment. The youth on Monday seized construction equipment belonging the contractors, Andre Quadrez Construction Company. They vowed that they will not release the equipment till they are employed the company. July 27, 2017, 2017: NPP youth storm Ashanti MMT terminal over new director Some aggrieved members of the NPP in the Ashanti Region stormed the premises of the Metro Mass Transit Bus terminal in the region to stop one Nicholas Oduro from holding himself as the Regional Depot Manager. According to them, Mr. Oduro could not claim to be the head when a Daniel Agyenim Boateng, the Deputy Regional Organizer of the party has already been appointed as the Manager. The youth, who vowed to ensure that Mr Oduro does not occupy any office at the premises of the company claimed a leading member of the NPP, Mr Amoako Tuffour was behind the illegal appointment of Nicholas Oduro. August 1, 2017: NPP Invincible Forces threaten chaos over jobs The Tema base of the Invincible forces threatened to raid chaos on the Tema metropolis if the NPP government did not provide them with jobs. The aggrieved Invisible Forces members said they were being ridiculed for their unemployment, despite the fact that they worked to bring their party to power. They have however served notice they will vent their frustrations on Tema in a manner akin to the Delta Force's disturbances in Kumasi if their neglect by the government did not end. October 16, 2017: NPP youth lockup School Feeding office in Tamale An NPP group at Aboabo, a suburb of Tamale in the Northern Region, calling itself the Burma Camp Youth Wing vowed never to unlock the Northern Regional Secretariat of the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP). The group on Monday, October 16, 2017, chased out the Regional Coordinator and staff of the office and locked up the offices over what it called unfair allocation of schools in the region to caterers. By: citifmonine.com/Ghana 26.10.2017 LISTEN The Tolon district in the Northern Region, now has a substantive District Chief Executive (DCE), in the person of Balchisu Yakubu. She was on Wednesday confirmed by 33 out of 34 assembly members who voted in an election supervised by the Electoral Commission. Until her appointment, the area had been without a DCE following the Tolon Regent, Retired Major Sulemana Abubakari, and his peoples rejection of the first DCE nominee, Hajia Amama Shaibu. The Northern Regional Minister, Salifu Saeed, commended the assembly members for accepting the Presidents choice of DCE. Salifu Saeed said despite the late confirmation of the DCE nominee, the district will be well catered for. He implored the chiefs and residents of the area to give Balchisu Yakubu their maximum cooperation. He also called for peaceful coexistence to ensure the smooth implementation of pro-poor programmes including the planting for food and jobs, one district-one factory and free Senior High School among others. Salifu Saeed admonished all loyalists of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the region, to exercise maximum restraint as steps are being taken to address their concerns. The DCE, Balchisu Yakubu, promised to serve the interest of all, and appealed to the chiefs there to support her. As a teacher, she said education will be her topmost priority to overturn students poor performance in the area. By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana The Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry has targeted to increase exports to the United States from the current 14 percent to over 24 percent in eight years. Officials expect members to take full advantage of the Agric Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) initiative to achieve the objective. Beneficiary countries are entitled to export over 6,400 products quota and duty-free to the United States. The Africa-US bilateral arrangement encourages export-led growth to enhance trade and economic potential of sub-Saharan African countries. Chief Executive of the Ghana Chamber, Mark Adu Aboagy, is optimistic the target can be achieved. The opportunity is there for over 6, 000 product but we are exporting less than 100, it means we are not taking advantage. A lot of exporters are not even aware of these individual products [so] we need to bring it to their attention. "Currently, we import almost everything which puts pressure on our currency and foreign revenue we are not taking advantage," he said. According to him, together with the trades ministry and government, in a matter of five years, they expect Ghanas revenue from export to exceed imports. You just cant take up your product and export to the US because of AGOA. You must produce at acceptable export standards, and quality. "It is a very competitive market so you should be able to produce at a competitive price, the quality that is acceptable and delivery must be on point, he adds. AGOA has been extended by ten years, from 2015 to 2025. A sensitisation workshop on AGOA has been held in Kumasi to build the capacity of exporters. It was organised by the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and U.S Agency for International Development West Africa Trade and Investment Hub. One of the participants, Solomon Mensah, highlights challenges to meeting internationally quality standards and indicates that developing local products for export will help stimulate economic growth. It is worrying when you produce and get ready for export but your goods get rejected due to international standards [regulations]. We must be assisted to meet these requirements, he admonishes. Ghana looks to increase non-traditional export earnings from 2.4 billion dollars in 2016 to 5 billion dollars by 2021. Ashanti Regional Trade and Industry Officer, Mahmuda Ousman, says developing local export products could increase Ghanas industrialisation as firms would have expanded to add value to raw materials for export to create more jobs for our people. In view of this, the government through the Ministry of Trade and Industry has launched the National Export Strategy which seeks to ensure that each district in Ghana specialises in at least one exportable product in the country. The strategy, according to, Mr. Ousman, will also ensure the establishment of district export committees to provide support services, information of AGOA and market access to exporters. He added that the ministry is also putting in place a clear implementation plan in relation to the governments ten points agenda for industrial transformation to increase Ghanas export earnings by diversifying exports to the international market, including to the U.S market. On October 20, 2017, in Las Vegas, Nevada, Dr. Thomas Mensah was Honored in a ceremony by former Governor Robert Frank List and Business Leaders in the area. The ceremony was organized by Dr. Nana Kufuor MD, one of the Founders of the Ghana Association in Las Vegas (GALV) and his wife Jenny Kufuor. During his keynote address, Dr. Mensah spoke about the invention and development of Fiber Optics in the United States (US) and his Pioneering Role in moving the Technology from the laboratories in Corning to the factory floors and industries globally, an innovation which has helped make social media possible today and among others led to the global expansion of the Internet platform. 90% of Facebook and Google Traffic is transmitted over Fiber Optic Submarine Cables, which uses the Ultra High Strength Fiber Optics technology based on the pioneering discoveries and inventions of Dr. Mensah that earned him 7 US patents over a period of 6 years. Dr. Mensah also spoke about new technological developments he is working on including a new book titled Nanotechnology Commercialization which he is editor-in-chief of and his role in developing the platform for the Internet of Things (IoT). He demonstrated a new smartwatch that can change television channels based on hand gestures which are being developed by Hug Innovations. 'The Right Stuff Comes in Black Too', the title of Dr. Mensah's autobiography was autographed by him and copies were given to former Governor List of Nevada and Dr. Kwabena Kufuor. The President of GALV, Mr. Jojo Nduom gave the closing remarks at the event. Dr. Kufuor and Mr. Nduom praised Dr. Mensah for turning his attention to Ghana and Africa, with his High-Speed Train Proposal for Ghana and other countries and his Airport Maintenance facility for West Africa proposed to be built in Kumasi, Ghana. "These projects will revolutionize the transportation infrastructure in Ghana, something that is badly needed", Mr. Ndoum said. Based on his interests in sustainable development for Ghana, Dr. Mensah took the opportunity of his presence in Nevada to tour the Hoover Dam, located 45 Minutes from Las Vegas. This Dam generates and supplies Electricity to 6 US states including California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah. This is one of the largest Engineering structures in the world as well as one of the largest Power generating dams. Over 10% of the audience in attendance at the event were old students of Adisadel College located in Cape Coast, Ghana, which also happens to be where Dr. Mensah had his secondary education. The newly sworn in District Chief Executive (DCE) for the Tolong District of the northern region, Hajia Barikisu Yakubu has appealed to the members of the New Patriotic Party in the area especially, her opponents for a United Front to be able to bring the needed development to the people. The Tolong District on Wednesday sworn into office it's District Chief Executive (DCE) after several attempts to get the District a leader by the NPP government failed. The District, for over six months has lived without a DCE since the Nana Addo led government took over the mantly of leadership of the country after the chiefs and people of the area hevemently rejected one Hajia Amaama who was appointed by president. Until the appointment of Hajia Barikisu Yakubu, the deputy northern regional minister Solomon Boar acted as the DCE for the area which was a major concern to the people. But the District Assembly on Wednesday October 25,2017 gave Hajia Barikisu Yakubu, who was recently nominate by the president to represent his government in the area so that the people can also benefit from the many developmental and social intervention programs the party want to offer to the people of Ghana 71.1 percent confirmation. Minutes after taking her oath, Hajia Barikisu asked for unity and support from the people in the area especially, members of the NPP party. According to her, the area can only benefit from the transformational agenda of the NPP government is offering Ghanaians when there unity among them. She mentioned lack of potable drinking water, access roads, inadequate schools and poverty as some of the challenges facing the area. And pledged the support of her office and that of the New Patriotic Party government led by Nana Addo and Bawumiya to transforming the area She expressed her gratitude to the president and the regional executives of the party for the confidence they have in her hence choosing her to represent the government and the party in Tolong. The Northern regional minister, Salifu Saeed who sworn Hajia Barikisu Yakubu into her office appealed to the constituency executives especially, those who showed up to also contest for the position to burry their differences for the benefit of the party and the people at large.. Honorable Saeed also pledged the support of the Regional Coordinating Council to the development of the Tolong and the region as a whole. On his part, the Regent of Tolong, Major Suleimana Yakubu said he was happy that, the area has gotten someone who will act as a leader in the development of the area. Present at the ceremony were, the Northern regional chairman of the NPP, Abdul Fatawu Bugri Naabu, the Northern regional minister, Salifu Saeed, the Deputy northern regional minister Solomon Boar, the, the regional security coordinator, regional BNI boss, MP for the areas, Wahabu Suhuyini, members of both regional and constituency party executives, the Regent of Tolong, chiefs, religious leaders, the media and the general public. The Achimota branch of Melcom had been officially opened for business with a call on the public to give the new branch the same patronage given to other Melcom shops across the country. In his address, Deputy Minister for Trades and Industry, Hon. Robert Ahomka Linday, said that the government has a very clear vision and strategy on job creation through industrial transformation. He mentioned the One District One Factory program been spearheaded by his Ministry and the planting for food and job flagship program of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture as some of the strategies been implemented by the government. He said these flagship programs if well implemented, will help create jobs, enhance and increase incomes and alleviate poverty among the people. He commended the erstwhile NDC Government for instituting the promotion of locally manufactured goods which the current NPP Government is continuing. Hon. Robert Ahomka Lindsay indicated that we must produce and consume more locally manufactured goods in order to create jobs for the people and to develop as a country which is a vision of the current government. The Deputy Trades and Industry Minister commended the Melcom Group for putting up the state of the arts edifice for business and urged other businesses in the country to emulate the examples and upgrade their physical infrastructures of retail trading. He implored all entrepreneurs and business entities to improve the environment in which they conduct their business in order to make the environment conducive for business and to also ensure the lives of their clients are secured. He tasked the Melcom Group of Companies to replicate such edifices in all the districts within Ghana. We need more outlets like Melcom to do business in the country to source for more locally manufactured products for the people For his part, the Melcom Group of Companies Director for Communications, Mr. Godwin Avenorgbor , pointed out that the company which started operation in Ghana since 1989 is creating jobs and upgrading the skills of locals to take up commanding heights within the company. One of the joint managers at Melcom is a Ghanaian by naturalization and that out of the 38 Melcom brand Managers 34 are Ghanaians and by February 2018 , he announced, Melcom will only have one expatriate Manager. Melcom now operates in all the ten regional capitals of Ghana and that they are now extending their services to the municipals and districts nationwide. He disclosed that the Achimota Melcom, which is the 38th Melcom branch nationwide, will become one of the principal centers for the Melcom made-in-Ghana promotions. The Melcom made-in-Ghana promotion has been in existence for some time now and has been used by the company to promote and sell only locally manufactured goods. He said the new branch has set new standards for ensuring a safe and secure environment for all their business premises. Safety and security has become even more paramount in our overall attitude for doing business in Ghana while we aim at satisfying our customers desire for convenience and variety. The new building he noted has been duly constructed as per the approved structural designs. . 26.10.2017 LISTEN Traditional Authorities in Tain,Banda and Atebubu-Amantin districts of the Brong-Ahafo Region has vowed to support ActionAid Ghana,a non governmental organisations,"End Child Marriage Project" which aimed sensitizing people on the negative effects of Child Marriage and the need to stop it. ActionAid Ghana, the Global Social Justice Organisation, which is working to achieve social justice, gender equity and poverty eradication, has also called for extensive public education on child marriage that stands at 21 per cent in Ghana with 41,000 girls marrying everyday globally. At a press conference in Sunyani, organised by ActionAid and the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) to draw attention to the phenomenon,the traditional authorities commended Action Aid Ghana and UNICEF on the continuous efforts to help bring the practice under control. They expressed their concern about the situation and pledged to use all their powers to assist ActionAid. Statistics available indicates that, Upper East, leading with 37 per cent, followed by Upper West and Northern with Cape Coast and Brong Ahafo leading in southern Ghana whiles Accra comes with the least of 12 per cent. According to them the intensified public education undertaken by ActionAid Ghana in the three identified districts namely Tain, Atebubu-Amantin and Banda noted to have the highest rate of child marriage prevalences was making significant impact in curbing child marriage in the communities. In these three districts, one out of four girls or both parties are married before their 18th birthday on the average. Nana Abena Boatemaa,the President of the National Queenmothers Association,who is also Paramount Queen of Odumase number one in the Sunyani West District who presided the press conference told Sunyani based radio Ahomka 90.5FM that, some parents shirked their responsibility towards the upbringing of girls. "Some parents refused to provide girls with some basic needs, the victims also looked elsewhere for support towards their upkeeps. She therefore urged parents to monitor and create a good relationship with their children to enable them to identify their needs and assist them when the need arose. Meanwhile, Brong-Ahafo Regional Programme Manager of ActionAid Ghana, Madam Melody Azinim,in an interview with Ahomka 90.5 FM,after the press conference,said the practice was increasing at an alarming rate in the region because adults believed they had the right to impose marriage on children but that denied the girls the opportunity to make choices as to who to marry or when to have children. Choices define us and allow us to realize our potential. Child marriage robs girls of this chance, she said. "Once a girl was married, it forced her to drop out of school, leave her home and inhabit another place and that compelled her to take up roles that she was not mentally prepared for, and as a result led to isolation and depression" She said, even though government had put up policies and laws against child marriage, and declared it a crime, the practice was still prevalent and needed combined effort to enforce those legal provisions. Madam Melody Azinim, was grateful to the traditional rulers for their involvement in the efforts to address the problem, especially in the three districts, and appealed to parents to also come up with measures to support the advocacy campaign to end the canker. She urged the Social Welfare and Community Development Department, and the Ghana Education Service to speed up processes intended to curtail child marriage, since they hardly followed up on reported cases of child marriages, which enabled the perpetuators to move the girls to the southern part of the country, making it impossible to bring them back to school. The various security agencies in the country have been placed on high alert to forestall any security threats at Ghana's borders. It follows government's decision to open the country's borders to facilitate free movement of humans, goods and services between its neighbouring countries as part of protocols [agreements] signed among members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). President Akufo-Addo, who made this known at the graduation parade of the Ghana Immigration Service Officer Cadet Intake 9 at the Immigration Academy and Training School, Assin Fosu in the Central Region yesterday, said the government was mindful of the security threats and challenges this policy might bring, especially with the growing threat of terrorism in the sub-region. Assurance He assured his countrymen that our security agencies have been put on high alert, and are coordinating effectively with our neighbours to keep our respective countries safe. The president said, The Immigration Service has played a key role in this coordinated effort, as it has provided critical and vital intelligence in addition to manning our borders rigorously during this period. According to him, a fundamental part of his government's strategy for growth has been to associate Ghana strongly with the process of regional and continental integration. President Akufo-Addo therefore stressed the belief that the measures his government had put in place should make Ghanaian businesses more competitive in West Africa, Africa and beyond. It is for this reason that government has taken the decision to open all our borders to operate for 24 hours. This will boost trade and tourism, and, then, we can reap the economic benefits, he posited. Opening Ghana's borders is giving true meaning to the ECOWAS Protocols on Free Movement of Goods and Persons; and will spur on progress and prosperity for our peoples. That is why, since 8th June, 2017, the Aflao border post has been running for 24 hours, and same has been extended to Akanu and Segbe border posts. In due course, Elubo, Sampa, Golokrom, Hamile and Paga will follow, he emphasized. Worry Unfortunately, however, he indicated that the opening of the country's borders 24 hours each day had also increased the spate of smuggling from the country. He urged officers and men of the Ghana Immigration Service to be vigilant in assisting to combat this scourge, and help bring the perpetrators of these crimes to book. I am determined that our open-border policy will not lead to the undermining of our economy, and I need your support to ensure that, he appealed. Effect In recent years, the president had talked of how issues of migration had taken centre stage in national, regional, continental and global discussions, sometimes costing presidents and prime ministers elections, and brought in new leaders in some countries as a result. Immigration has been tied to global security, especially within the growing threats of terrorism. The fear of attacks is driving a growing link between anti-terror measures and immigration policy. At the same time, immigration has been proven to be a strong developmental tool of many countries, playing key roles in the rapid expansion of their economies, he observed. Commitment He stressed that in the 2016 Manifesto of the New Patriotic Party, they pledged to offer extensive training in specialist areas in the growing areas of crime detection and prevention, customer service relations and trends in global cross-border crimes and anti-terrorism tactics. The party also promised to provide modern and strategic equipment to make them more efficient, as well as offering competitive remuneration to enable the Service attract the best personnel. President Akufo-Addo therefore reiterated his government's commitment to achieving these campaign pledges, adding, from the last 10 months, the period of stay of my government in office, you can all attest to the fact that when I promise, I deliver. His advice to the granduands was, The training you have received will assist you greatly in the discharge of your duties, and also in helping to realise the vision of the Immigration Service. I urge you to maintain high levels of discipline, and strive not to compromise on your professional ethics. Diligence, integrity and honesty must be your watchwords. The NDC Manual as former President John Mahama has dubbed the Prof Kwesi Botchwey's report on why the party failed is an enigma. It has evoked myriad problems since it was completed and hidden somewhere in the rooms of some party apparatchiks. Like other documents of its stature, it shall, come what may and regardless of the security surrounding it, be leaked. The controversy surrounding the publication equal's the party for which the project was commissioned. When DAILY GUIDE commenced to do stories from it, the party denied we had the bona fide document describing our efforts as nothing but mischief. Even as they questioned the integrity of our stories and its source, the publication, they failed to support their position with convincing details. Their effort at denigrating us was futile as they quickly came to terms with the reality that we had in our armpit the Kwesi Botchwey report and nothing but it. Those who somewhat supported the NDC in questioning whether we have the real document have eventually laid their hands on it and are feasting on it lavishly. What to do next is what they are best at doing-running down individuals with fabrications in this case the author of the publication. Now the heat is on the Prof himself, his integrity threatened by the impressions some top NDC personalities have about him. The party gurus are starving the publication of the oxygen to stand as a credible document worthy of reverence on the political scene. The man in charge of research of the party who failed in his assignment as head of the National Identification Authority (NIA) after so much public funds went into the project has dented the image of the honourable Prof. The impression being created about the publication is most worrying and deepens the woes of the party. Why would a political party of this stature deny a publication into which it pumped so much to get done? Prof Botchwey who still remains below the public radar as far as the publication is concerned, should be considering defending the product of his sweat. He and others traversed the whole country gathering the impressions of party faithful about what went wrong only to be slapped with a 'no confidence' verdict in the output. That must be worrying for an academic of the standing of Prof Kwesi Botchwey. Claiming rather subtly that the publication is a 'one-man show' and therefore lacking credibility is an indirect blow to the Prof. Did he author the publication in his bedroom as they are seeking to impress upon Ghanaians? The NDC is the largest opposition party in the country whose house in its current state is anything but normal. We thought that the output of the work of the Prof would have provided the ingredients for an overhaul of the NDC machine. Not so, however, with the publication suffering such a devastating blow, and by extension, the integrity of the Prof. It is time for him to come out of the hole in which he appears to be hiding in the midst of the hullabaloo. Raymond Tandoh 26.10.2017 LISTEN IT HAS emerged that the now opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) went to the various collation centres in the Ashanti Region during the 2016 elections without sheets of paper or pens to write down the numbers of the ballots cast. Sam Pyne, Ashanti Regional Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), who visited the collation centres, made the disclosure on Tuesday, saying that he was surprised about the NDC's action. According to him, the NDC banked all its hopes on rigging the elections to retain power and therefore its members in the region did not see the need to even bring writing materials to the collation centres. I was present at the Ashanti Regional collation centre when the 2016 elections results were filtering in, and I was amazed to see that the NDC members were not holding papers, let alone pens, to write figures, he said on Otec fm in Kumasi. The NDC members knew that their dirty plan to rig the polls was working perfectly for them; that was why they did not bother to even bring papers and pens to the collation centres. They thought they had won in advance, he noted. Mr Sam Pyne indicated that the NDC government totally mismanaged the economy and brought excessive hardship on the populace therefore, it realized that it was only through rigging that it could win the 2016 polls. He stated that the NDC is currently being faced with a lot problems but the party's leadership is so hypocritical that it is behaving as if all was well. The NPP regional secretary stated that the NDC needs to work hard to heal the numerous wounds that have bedeviled the party after the embarrassing defeat at the hands of the NPP in 2016, before it thinks about anything. According to him, the NDC looks frail as there is lack of party unity, which is a serious matter that should not be swept under the carpet. Mr Sam Pyne also urged the NDC to come out with the findings of Prof. Kwesi Botchwey's Committee and find comply with the recommendations in the report. Already, the DAILY GUIDE newspaper has a copy of the report and they have been publishing them on a daily basis so what is the need of keeping the report secret? he asked, amid laughter. FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi First Lady, Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo, has appealed to business leaders to help brand Ghana to develop businesses. According to the First Lady, business leaders must use their time and resources to drive the process of rebranding Ghana for business growth. I challenge you as business leaders to see branding Ghana as a corporate social responsibility, she said. Mrs Akufo-Addo said all over the world, countries were competing to attract business, investment and tourism by adopting the same brand building rigor used by global businesses to gain competitive advantage. The fact is, we are in competition with the rest of the world for limited investment, so we have no choice than to get on with the business of rebranding Ghana as the preferred investment destination, not only in Africa but globally, she explained. Mrs Akufo-Addo disclosed this while speaking at the maiden edition of the Executive Women Network (EWN), Annual Conference themed, Rebranding Ghana To Drive Business Growth: The perspective of Women Leaders. The day's event brought together hundreds of women leaders from senior management and executive positions and women entrepreneurs to deliberate on how to encourage women in politics, business, academia and all sectors of the national economy. She commended the participants for growing the businesses and brands that have been entrusted to them over the years, adding that many of these are multinational brands that you have built and managed exceptionally well over the years. She however noted that often, the work of branding Ghana is left solely in the hands of government institutions such as the Ghana Investment Promotion Council (GIPC). But you see we will make no meaningful progress in this regard if we, as leaders, do not play an active role in how our country is positioned in the minds of the rest of the world, she added. The First Lady said that the conference was not solely about what government can do, but what collectively women leaders can do to rebrand Ghana to drive business growth. Freda Duplan, Chairperson of the EWN, in her welcome address, highlighted how the network began with six women executives and within a little over a year grew its membership base. From a handful of Ghanaian women leaders, today EWN has over 100 members across different sectors of the economy, she said. She said the conference was to create the platform for women leaders to make Ghana a better place for all by leaving a legacy of a prosperous country and continent for the next generation. Creating that future begins with changing our narrative and purposefully rebranding our country to foster business growth and profitable partnership, she said. About 22 companies have received the prestigious 2017 HR Focus Magazine awards. The awards, according to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Mrs. Ellen Hagan, are presented to industry players for their exceptional work in Human Resource over the past two years. The awards ceremony, which was held at the Banquet Hall of the State House in Accra lately, attracted a number of dignitaries and industry players. MTN Ghana won six of the awards-Overall Best in HR Management, Best HR Information Systems, Best Organization in Organizational Culture and Employer of Choice. Mrs Ama Benneh Amponsah of MTN was also adjudged the HR Practitioner of the year. Fidelity Bank, Accra City Hotel, Tullow Oil, and Herbalife were adjudged the best in HR Best Management Services, Management in Hospitality, Best Management in Energy Natural Resources and Best Management in the SME Sector respectively. Best Organization in Learning &Development award went to Vodafone, Best Organization in Rewards Management award was won by Barclays Bank, Best Organization in Performance Management Award was won by Airtel Ghana, and Best Organization in Recruitment & Selection award went to Vodafone. Other recipients of the awards were Amaris Terminal, Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Omni Bank, Lister Hospital, GenserEnergy, Old Mutual and Expro Gulf. An HR Focus Magazine conference held for industry players, stakeholders and students at the College of Physicians and Surgeons near the State House, Accra preceded the awards ceremony. The conference was attended by a huge number of students and industry players, among others. Participants discussed Carrier Development Sessions, Websoft Solutions HR Forum, and Business set up and Challenges. Pentecost University College, University of Professional Studies and Accra (UPSA), Wisconsin University College and the University of Ghana Business School (UGBS) took the first, second, third and fourth positions respectively in the student challenge. Resource persons for the conference included Kobina Ata Badu, CEO of United Wealth Limited, Rev Cecil Apeagyei Collins, founder of Rehoboth Foundation. About HR Focus HR Focus Magazine is the first and only Human Resource Magazine in Ghana. According to Mrs Ellen M Hagan, CEO of HR Focus Magazine, the company has successfully organized five conferences and two award programmes. In a bid to sanitize the petroleum downstream industry, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has since August this year begun the implementation of new export guidelines to clamp down on fuel smuggling in the country. Addressing participants at the ongoing Oil Trading and Logistics Downstream Week in Lagos, Nigeria, Chief Executive Officer of NPA, Alhassan Tampuli said export companies were now required to provide records of the import permit of foreign company for verification. Now you are required to send us the importer on record and we will confirm from the Regulators in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso whether those companies are licensed, he announced Mr. Tampuli said companies would have to add a copy of the contract they have with the foreign importer and also attach a list of foreign trucks to be used in order to apply for a 'no objection' letter from NPA. In addition to those rules, he said, export companies would now have to post a performance bond of 150 per cent of the total value of taxes, levies and margins. Bulk Road Vehicles would be allowed to export three times a week where the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) will provide escort till the product leaves the shores of the country. Enumerating on the successes so far, the Chief Executive said since the implementation of the new guidelines, exports to Mali has considerably reduced. The reverse is that, the GRA is recording increased revenue from domestic consumption of petroleum products He noted this was due to the fact that the retail stations were compelled to buy from oil marketing companies which has adversely shot up the legitimate volumes consumed in the country. Touching base on the recently confiscated 15 trucks, he said despite NPA's inability under its law (ACT 691) to confiscate and auction the product and trucks the NPA were collaborating with GRA (Customs Divisions) to confiscate the product and trucks. By virtue of NPAs Act (Act 691) we are not able to use our law to confiscate and auction them. So we are partnering with Custom's Division to use their law to confiscate all these 15 trucks and we are about to put them on auction. When we are done, we will revoke the licenses of all these exporters and we will ban all their Directors from actively participating in the downstream petroleum industry. That is the way we think will bring sanity to the industry in Ghana, he stressed. Present at the exhibition were Deputy Minister of Energy, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam; CEO of Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors, Senyo Hosi, Chairman of the Association of Oil Marketing, Johnny Blagogee and CEO of the Association of Oil Marketing Companies, Mr Kweku Agyemang Duah. At least one person was shot dead Thursday during clashes over Kenya's re-run election, which has been boycotted by the opposition and shunned by many voters, sparking a crisis that has polarised the east African hub. In stark contrast to the first ballot in August, which was overturned by the Supreme Court, several polling stations in key areas stood empty or welcomed only a handful of voters in an election likely to face more legal battles after its conclusion. In western Kisumu, an opposition stronghold, 19-year-old George Odhiambo died from blood loss after being shot in the thigh in clashes which erupted after protesters barricaded roads and polling stations to block the vote, police and hospital sources said. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the senior police source said there had been two deaths, although the second could not be independently verified. Four other people sustained gunshot wounds, a medic said at Kisumu's main hospital. Police fired water cannon and teargas to disperse angry demonstrators in several opposition strongholds in the west and in Nairobi's slums, who had ignored calls by opposition leader Raila Odinga to stay at home on election day. The election is the chaotic climax of a political drama that began when the Supreme Court overturned the victory of President Uhuru Kenyatta in the August 8 elections. In Nairobi's Kibera slum, opposition protesters, some armed with machetes, clashed with police as they sought to block Kenya's divisive election re-run Kenyatta, who turned 56 on Thursday, is almost assured victory after veteran opposition leader Odinga withdrew, citing fears the poll would be marred by the same flaws which saw the August vote overturned. It cited "irregularities" and mismanagement by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). "Today, no fair election can take place. The government wants to force us to vote, but we did not want to do it and we will not do it," said Austin Olang, a 26-year-old maths teacher in Kisumu. Faeces on the walls In coastal Mombasa, local police chief Benjamin Rotich said one person was stabbed and seriously injured while going to vote. In the city's Bangladesh slum, locals smeared faeces on the walls of a primary school that was to be used as a polling station. Map of Kenya locating places where clashes broke out between police and supporters of opposition leader Raila Odinga. Kenyans began voting Thursday in a repeat election that has polarised the nation. "They have made the environment unbearable after defecating all over, it is a shameful act," a police officer said. The boycott in east Africa's richest economy and one of its strongest democracies is likely to tarnish the credibility of Kenyatta's victory and deepen its worst political crisis since a 2007 election sparked politically-driven ethnic violence that left 1,100 dead. In the first election, turnout was nearly 80 percent among the 19 million registered voters. Kenyatta secured victory with 54 percent of the vote, while Odinga came second with 45 percent. Thursday's violence takes the number of people killed since the August election to at least 41. Rights groups have said deaths were mostly at the hands of police in poor opposition strongholds. 'I don't want a bullet' In Kisumu, an opposition stronghold in western Kenya where protesters have vowed to block the divisive election re-run, large numbers of police were on duty In Odinga's main strongholds but also in other places, polling officials were left twiddling their thumbs, from Kisumu in the west to Mombasa on the coast and Mandera in the far northeast. In areas loyal to Kenyatta, turnout was steady but still appeared to be far lower than during the first round. "It is my duty to vote. Last time the queue was all around the block and I waited six hours to vote, this time the people are few," said taxi driver David Njeru, 26, in Nairobi. In Kisumu, ballot boxes and electronic kits to identify voters and transmit results had not arrived in most polling stations, and only seven out of 399 polling officials showed up for work at the city's main counting office, with one saying he had spent the night there out of fear. "The perception here is that if you take that job, you are betraying your community", he said on condition of anonymity. "I stayed here because I don't want to get a bullet while on my way home." From politics to resistance "We don't want the ballot boxes and papers to reach polling stations," one demonstrator said in Kenya's western city of Kisumu, where opposition supporters have vowed to block the presidential re-run Odinga, 72, is a veteran opposition leader who followed in the footsteps of his father and inherited a dynastic rivalry with Kenyatta whose father was the country's first post-independence president. This election was widely seen as his final shot at the top job, after losing elections in 1997, 2007 and 2013 -- claiming the last two were stolen from him. After withdrawing from the election, Odinga said his NASA coalition would transform into "a resistance movement" which would embark on "a national campaign of defiance of illegitimate governmental authority and non-cooperation with all its organs". The decision to cancel the August poll was initially hailed as an opportunity to deepen democracy in a country plagued by disputed elections. But the re-run has been dogged by chaos and acrimony, prompting top diplomats to blast Odinga and Kenyatta for fuelling division. A statement signed by 15 foreign envoys representing the United States, the United Kingdom and several European countries, expressed disappointment that Kenya had not "come together to hold a better election". "We are deeply disappointed by the continuing efforts of both parties to interfere with and undermine the independent operation of the electoral commission, the judiciary, and other essential institutions," the statement said. The Woman360, a franchise network of private clinics which provides standardised model for ante-natal care, has opened its new facility at the E&E Medical Centre, Airport Women's Hospital Spoke, opposite the Adenta Municipal Assembly. Woman360 facility, consisting of well-trained midwives working in a well-coordinated system, assures high quality and affordable care in a very convenient, transparent and responsive environment. The facility is the second to be opened after the Resolve Medical Service Spoke, located at Tema Community 25 junction, close to Aves International School. Dr Maxwell Antwi, in his welcome address at the opening ceremony graced by dignitaries, including the Nertherlands Ambassador, Ron Strikker, Most Rev Prof Emmanuel Asante and Kwame Pianim, explained that the franchise has a threefold vision to first reduce maternal mortality, utilise the abundant human resource in the health sector and attract domestic and foreign investment into the health sector. He said after two years of conception, the facility is ready for commissioning, expressing his gratitude to all who helped and supported the vision of Woman360. With Woman360, a successor is possible because you do not need to be a medical doctor to own a facility and this will accelerate entrepreneurship within the health sector, Dr Antwi explained. Ron Strikker, in his keynote address, stated that Dutch investments in the private sector are part of the change in the focus of bilateral relation between Ghana and the Netherlands. He mentioned that while Ghana has moved to a middle income country, the Netherlands has also moved its relations towards the economy empowerment of Ghana to ensure that the country will be able to generate enough resources for public sector to be able to fund its activities. Ambassador Strikker said the health sector is one that needs improvement, indicating Woman360 creates the opportunity to meet the demand of the middle income women who are willing to pay for better services for health. Dr Francis Anin and Dr Padi Ayertey, representatives of the franchisee, expressed their belief that an expertly managed pregnancy through a strong client centered care guarantees healthy mother and baby. Our network ensures clear and prompt referral arrangement between the midwife in the spoke and the gynaecologist in the hub, they pointed out. The clinics in the network follow a structured quality improvement system through the safe care standards and certification programme which helps facilities to meet international quality and safety, Dr Anin and Dr Ayertey added. Most Rev Prof Emmanuel Asante prayed to officially commission the Woman360 facility. Inmates of the Ho Prisons and officials of the Volta Regional Hospital in Ho have benefited from the Royalhouse Chapel International's (RCI) benevolence. Worth GH100,000, the gesture is under RCI's Compassion Ministry, which oversees all the social programmes aimed at transforming the lives of the vulnerable, socially excluded and the less-privileged in society and give them hope for the future. Its operations are in conformity with the threefold vision of the church which in summary entails bringing people to God, preaching messages of hope and bringing comfort to people. In all, RCI, led by its General Overseer, Apostle General Sam Korankye-Ankrah, and the wife, Rita Korankye-Ankrah, donated many bags of rice, maize and beans, gallons of cooking oil, boxes of tomato paste, sewing machines, among others, to the Ho Prisons. The three-day programme saw the church also funding the surgery of 11 inmates of the Ho Prisons at the Volta Regional Hospital, who are suffering from hernia. A two-day crusade was also held to bring the message of hope and restoration to the inmates and officers. They also donated assorted medical supplies to the hospital and the prisons, and undertook a free health screening and medication for all inmates. Rev Sam Korankye-Ankrah, addressing separate gatherings, including an interaction with the Volta Regional Minister, Dr Archibald Letsa, underscored that the gesture is in line with what Christianity and what RCI stand for. He added that because government alone cannot shoulder the burden of the nation, it is appropriate for the church to frequently undertake such gestures to support the good plans of the government. Rev Korankye-Ankrah stated that caring for prisoners is the best reformation that Ghanaians can guarantee prisoners and facilitate their seamless re-integration into the society. To this end, the RCI's Compassion Ministry runs a School of Restoration, headed by Mrs Korankye-Ankrah, to ensure that prisoners are properly integrated into the society apart from visiting and caring for them when they are in prisons. The Head of the Ho Prisons, DDP Victor Agbelengor, and the Nursing Manager of the Volta Regional Hospital, Innocencia Gborgblorvor, expressed gratitude to the church for the kind gesture and appealed to other churches, individuals and organisations to do same. Madam Innocencia also called on the church and the public to frequently donate blood to the hospital, as the blood bank is short of blood. DDP Agbelengor pleaded with government, the church and other organisations to help the Ho Prisons acquire a bio-digester to transform their faecal matter to gas, as their septic tank gets full every month. He also called for more food donations from other benevolent individuals and organisations, especially during festive occasions, to make the inmates feel at home. Dr Letsa and Deputy Volta Regional Minister Maxwell Blagogee also expressed gratitude to the church and Apostle General Rev Korankye Ankrah for their kind gesture. Strengthening Action Against Corruption (STAAC), a DFID funded programme aimed at reducing corruption in the public sector, has organized a three-week course for 16 selected personnel of the Ghana Police Service and the Economic And Organized Crime Organization (EOCO). The selected personnel are to train other personnel to successfully investigate and prosecute culprits of financial crime and money laundering. At the closing ceremony of the three-week course facilitated by officials of STAAC, ACP Isaac Quist, the director in charge of administration at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters, expressed his satisfaction about the course. He said the course has helped bridge the gap between the theory aspect of financial investigations and its practice. He was of the opinion that owing to the programme, Ghanaians should expect successful investigations and prosecution of persons involved in corruption and money laundering. We are often impressed when investigators do their work well by gathering evidence and successfully prosecuting culprits. The knowledge you have acquired must be applied in your investigations for successful prosecution, as well as those who will also receive the training from you. The Deputy Executive Director of EOCO, Nana Antwi, in a remark, gave assurance that personnel trained were going to be used to train others who could not get the opportunity to be trained by STAAC officials themselves. The leader of STAAC facilitators of the programme said the course is the second event hosted by STAAC, EOCO and the CID. He said STAAC, after the training, will produce an investigation manual to help guide the participants, who will serve as trainers for others as well. STAAC is keen to continue to work with EOCO and CID. THE MEMBER of Parliament for (MP) or Tema East Constituency in Greater Accra, Daniel Kwartei Titus-Glover has rewarded six elders of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Tema for their significant contributions to the development of the party. Names of the awardees include, Mr Samuel Evans Ashong Narh; former MP for Tema East and Mayor of Tema, Madam Gladys Naa Ashorkor L Duadan; former Constituency Women Organizer, Lawyer Abraham Osei Aidoo; former Tema West MP and Mr. Ishmael Ashittey; Greater Accra Regional Minister and former MP for Tema East. The remaining elders are Mr. Theophilus Adjetey Larbie, Baffour Anim Addo, both founding fathers of the party and chairmen in the Tema East Constituency respectively. Some of the awardees were given cloth and an amount of GH2, 000 for their unflinching support to the NPP. The MP who doubles as Deputy Minister of Transport also commissioned an ultramodern office complex for the Tema East Constituency of the party. Estimated at a cost of GH50, 000, the fully furnished office including electrical appliance was funded by the MP as part of his contribution to the development of the party in the constituency. Speaking during the ceremony, the MP explained that the honoured personalities devoted their time and resources to build the Danquah, Dombo and Busia Tradition at their peril in Tema, hence the need to be recognised. Titus-Glover expressed optimism that the rewarding the elders and founding members of the party will inspire the youth in NPP to also sacrifice for the party. Touching on the construction and opening of an office complex for the party, the MP said the office was opened to make the NPP more visible and to also serve as an administrative point for party people and all those who may want to register to become members of the party. He tasked the constituency executives to recruit more people into the party and organize them to win more parliamentary and presidential votes for the NPP. The MP assured the constituents that he would make himself available to interact with them regularly to brief them on developments going on in the constituency for them to give their support. For his part, the Greater Accra Regional Minister applauded the MP for his kind support to the party and rewarding founding members of the party in Tema and national in general. He believed that rewarding people for their hard work is a step in the right direction, describing the awardees as pillars of NPP in Tema. The Brong Ahafo Regional Youth Organizer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) Kwame Baffoe popularly known as Abronye has accused former Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD, Dr. Stephen Opuni for funding his late mother's funeral with money from the coffers of the COCOBODS Stabilization fund. The Cocoa Stabilization Fund which was established by the erstwhile Kuffour administration was to ensure a stable cocoa price for farmers in the country especially in times when prices go down on the international market. Minority earlier this week held a press conference spearheaded by the minority spokesperson on Agric Hon Eric Opoku at Bodi in the western region, to question the ruling government over what they describe as bad treatment of cocoa farmers. The Minority observed that the cancellation of some ongoing road projects, challenges with cocoa mass spraying exercise and replacement of free fertilizers with subsidized ones are a clear manifestation that government is pushing cocoa farmers into extreme poverty. Hon. Opoku who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Asunafo South constituency in the Brong Ahafo Region, accused the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government of sidelining perceived sympathizers of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), in the distribution of fertilizers. The NDC MP, however, challenged the NPP government and COCOBOD to come clean on how much they have realized from Cocoa Stabilization Fund. In responding to this, Abronye described the press conference by the minority as a senseless, shambolic and needless which must not be given an attention by the media. Speaking in an interview with Agya Wusu Ansah, host of Otec FM's late afternoon political talk show dubbed "DWABIREM", the NPP National Youth Organizer hopeful fingered Dr Opuni for stealing from the stabilization fund to fly his late mother's corpse to be kept at a morgue in South Africa for nine months, flew it back and paid all funeral expenses from Cocoa Stabilization Fund. Abronye DC wondered why the Minority is questioning Nana Addo led government to account for Stabilization Fund whiles they know that the NPP government is just nine months old and asked the Minority to tell Ghanaians how they spent the money accrued from the Fund. Mr Boffoe alleged that Hon Eric Opoku, former Brong Ahafo Regional Minister who is also the Member of Parliament Asunafo South constituency, is hoarding fertilizers meant for cocoa farmers at his warehouse at Sankore in the Brong Ahafo region and called on the security agencies to investigate into the matter. Source: otecfmghana.com The Pathologist who carried out an autopsy on the lynched soldier, Maxwell Adam Mahama says some parts of the deceased's body could not be traced. Dr. Lawrence Adusei could not tell who had taken missing body parts of the slain army officer and for what purpose. The soldier was lynched by a mob in the Central Regional town of Denkyira Oboasi on May 29, 2017. About 23 people are currently standing trial before the Court for their involvement in the act. The court on October 10, ordered Pathologist Dr. Lawrence Adusei and the Head of the 37 Military Hospital Pathology Department, to appear before it to explain why they were yet to make the report available. Appearing before the court Thursday, Dr. Adusei said he had requested for the Crime scene officer, the officer in charge of ballistics and investigators to assist him in his work. This he told the court has not been complied with. Dr. Adusei who also blamed police investigators for the delay in the release of the report, four months after the gruesome murder of the soldier. When asked why he had not contacted authorities after encountering this difficulty, Dr. Adusei said he had in the past encountered the challenge of non-payment of allowances due him by the Judicial Service, something which deterred him from pursuing the matter. In defence, Police Prosecutor DSP George Amegah rejected the claim by the Doctor. He argued the law provided for the Pathologist to formally write to the police to place any request if he encountered difficulty. This he said, had not been done. Magistrate Ebenezer Kweku Ansah handed the Pathologist three weeks to collaborate with Police Investigators to ensure the autopsy report is ready. Hearing of the matter continues on November 23, 2017. 26.10.2017 LISTEN A strong seven-member team of armed robbers audaciously attacked and robbed at gun point commuters plying the Kumawu to Effiduase road on Friday, 20 October 2017. From reports reaching me and as confirmed by my telephone call to one of the victims who was not only robbed but also, brutalised to the point of suffering serious facial and eye injuries, the armed robberies took place twice on same day on same stretch of road at two different points and two different times. Armed robbers have since the past several years been sporadically attacking cars and passengers using the Kumawu to Effiduase road. The proneness of the road, especially the stretch between Wonoo and Akotosu, to armed robbery attacks led to the police putting up and manning a barrier at Yaw Asoagye (Yaw Asoadwa) Nkwanta. That was where most of the robberies used to take place. On Friday, 20 October 2017 and at about 05:00 hours (5 am), the second early passenger car commuting from Kumawu was stopped at the police barrier. The armed robbers had taken advantage of the absence of the police from the barrier at those early hours of the morning. They obliged the driver (Kwame Agyekum) of the Ford Transit 15-seater bus to use his vehicle to cross the road, thus, to barricade the road to prevent any vehicle coming from either side of the road from crossing to the other side. The armed robbers forced all the passengers out of the bus. They first collected from the driver the GHs100 in his possession meant for purchasing fuel (petrol) for his vehicle. They then collected every pesewa on each passenger from them. Those who had no money to give to the robbers were severely beaten and were advised by the robbers to go and find themselves job to do so that they the robbers could also get money. Many cars from either side of the barrier had to stop with the passengers all attacked and robbed. On Fridays, a big market is held at Kumawu-Bodomase. Many traders commute from Ejisu, Juaben, Effiduase and other numerous places to attend the market. It was therefore a perfect opportunity for the callous armed robbers to make money. One female passenger who pleaded with them to spare her any beatings amid claims of not having any money on her to give to them was told by one of the robbers; You are a liar. Are you not at the Kumawu lorry station always frying and selling yams? How dare you say that you have no money? Another female trader who was understood to have hidden part of her money when she first sighted the robbers was beaten by them after they had taken her GHs1, 700. They insisted it was not all the money she had on her. Did you not go to Ejisu market on Monday and Juaben market on Tuesday? I saw you go to those markets including that of Effiduase so you cannot tell us GHs1, 700 is all the money you have, one of the robbers declared. After subjecting her to severe beatings, the woman did produce the rest of the money she had hidden somewhere in the car. It was seized by the robbers. Again, they seized some cloth from a cloths-seller, spread it on the floor and poured all the money and mobile phones they had seized from their victims into it and dashed for the bush when they heard the police car coming. As they ran into the bush, they were firing gunshots backwards in case the police were pursuing them. The police were understood to be firing guns into the bush in the direction of the escaping robbers. In the afternoon of the same day at around 16:45 hours (4.45 pm), one Mr Frank Agyei, the Education Officer for the Sekyere Kumawu District was attacked by some armed robbers on the same road at about a mile or so from where armed robbers had attacked passengers/commuters in the morning. He was returning from Effiduase to Kumawu in his private car. After he had gone past Akotosu, he saw a motorbike (motorcycle) lying in the middle of the road. According to him and as confirmed to me on the phone, the first thing that struck his mind was, the motorbike had had an accident. As he drove nearer and slowed down, he could see other cars all stopped by some armed robbers. It was too late for him to make a reverse. He was ordered to come out of his car, the windows of which he had all fully rolled up. Three robbers touting guns emerged from the bush to ask for his mobile phones and money. He gave them his mobile phone and GHs500 on his person. He had taken the money with intent to purchase something with it from Effiduase but he could not find what he wanted hence the money ending up unspent. After they had taken the money, they asked him to produce any other money he might have on him. He told them that was all the money he had on him. They searched him and found GHs10 in one-cedi notes and coins. They asked, But you said you have no more money on you, where from this? Before he could answer them, they were landing blows to his head and body. One mighty blow into his eye sent him flying onto the ground. They robbed so many people. The second robbery incident occurred between Akotosu and Ampratwum Nkwanta. That stretch of road has many curves which make it difficult for a driver to see a reasonable length of distance ahead of him/her. This curvy nature of the road also prevents a driver from reversing quickly or speeding past any such acts of mounted highway robberies. Readers may recollect that a few months ago, the Member of Parliament for Sekyere Afram Plains, Hon. Alex Adomako-Mensah, was attacked by armed robbers in the same area; between Akotosu and Ampratwum Nkwanta. To conclude, I shall appeal to the Inspector General of Police to introduce or implement policies that will curtail, if not stop, the ongoing numerous visitations of armed robberies on innocent Ghanaians. Additionally, all Ghanaians should make it their duty to report suspicious persons in their communities to the security agents. This is the only way we can effectively fight to uproot armed robbery from Ghana. Armed robbers can maim, kill and destroy human lives so let us act as a team and by our concerted efforts, that canker called armed robbery could be successfully eliminated from society. 26.10.2017 LISTEN A Human Rights Court in Kumasi has disallowed the Headmistress of Abuakwa State College to disentangle herself from a legal suit brought against her by some aggrieved tutors of the Konongo Odumase SHS in the Ashanti region. This was contained in a 15-page ruling stumbled upon at the Ashanti Regional office of the Ghana Education Service which denied the former headmistress of Konongo Odumase SHS and now headmistress of Abuakwa State SHS, Miss Comfort the opportunity of extricating herself from a legal suit filed by the tutors. Background of suit It would be recalled that in November, 2016, a group of ten teachers from Konongo Odumase SHS petitioned the Director-General of the GES requesting him to investigate to find out the officer(s) within the GES that employed a man of God named Chritos Owusu Yiadom to teach in the school. The petition further prayed the Director-General to investigate whether or not the man of God had the requisite certificate that qualified him to teach at the SHS. It further requested that the GES finds out whether there was the need to allow the man of God to teach in the school since the subject he handled (Christian Religious Studies) already had two tutors teaching a maximum of sixteen periods. The tutors had to petition the Director-General since all efforts to seek answers to the above questions proved futile. The petition was later referred to the Ashanti Regional Education Directorate. But shockingly, the invitation letters to each of the teachers was silent on the basic rationale for their petitioning the Director-General of GES. The invitation letters only asked them to assist the Regional Disciplinary Committee chaired by the Kumasi Metro Director of Education, Mr Alexander Atta Asante to investigate an alleged sodomy case in the school. The tutors, after subjecting themselves to the Atta-Asante-led disciplinary committee, were surprisingly, 'found guilty of a charge of planning a school demonstration against the school authorities'. Meanwhile, investigations reveal that none of the petitioners has sighted a copy of the report that found them culpable of the offence they believe was never brought to their attention when they appeared before the committee. They bemoaned that it is an infraction of their rights and abuse of natural justice if they are punished on a charge they were never heard on. They therefore ran to seek protection for their rights at a Human Rights Court through the F-X Law & Associates. Counsel for the plaintiffs, William Ayisi Otto, aside from general damages, cost and legal fees, prayed the court to declare that the action of the then headmistress, Miss Comfort Odehe and the director general amounts to abuse of power, office and also a breach of natural justice. Counsel Ayisi further pleaded that the court declared the transfers purported to be given out of a disciplinary proceedings carried out by the GES, arbitrary. He added, the officers of GES, by their action, have violated the dictates of due process and also, is contrary to Article 23 of the 1992 constitution. Again the F-X Law Associate prayed the honourable court to grant his clients an interlocutory injunction restraining the GES from taking any action against his clients including embargoes on their salaries which may have the tendency of prejudicing the outcome of the substantive case. In his counter argument however, counsel for the headmistress of Abuakwa State College and the GES, Rev Fr. Obeng Larbi argued that the writ filed by the plaintiffs' counsel be struck out since the plaintiffs did not exhaust all the internal grievances procedures enshrined in the code of professional conduct of the GES before resorting to the court. To make his defence watertight in order not to leave any room for defective legal argument, Rev. Fr Larbi further submitted that since Miss Odehe had been sued in her personal capacity even though she acted as an official of the GES, the tutors' action is incompetent and abuse of due process. In his oral submission, plaintiffs' counsel argued that defence counsel, should rather appear under Order 4 rule 5(2) of the CI 47 2004, the High Court Civil Procedure Rules to seek redress to get his clients disjoined from the suit if he claims she has wrongly been sued. He added that, to pray the court to dismiss the entire writ of summons doesn't find expression in the law. In another counter argument by defence counsel, it was argued that the plaintiffs did not comply with State Proceedings Act, 1998, Act 555. This act suggests that it is mandatory for any party to serve notice on the attorney general thirty clear days before serving a writ on any state institution including the GES. He added that the notice and writ of summons to the attorney general were served concurrently. The attorney general since the commencement of the litigation, has never entered even an appearance at the court. After a lengthy oral submissions from both counsels, the court handed down its ruling. The presiding judge in his ruling on 8th September, 2017, submitted that, under the general practice of law, it is not the duty of the defendant to choose his plaintiff. Rather, the contrary view holds. The burden, he added will then lie on the plaintiffs to lead evidence to show why they choose a particular person as defendant. He added among other considerations that it will not be fair for the writ to be struck out at this stage of the litigation. In view of the above, Miss Comfort Odehe was not allowed to extricate herself from the suit. On the claim by the defence counsel that the tutors did not exhaust the internal grievance procedures of the GES before taking the court action,the court presided over by His Lordship Justice Krofa Addae, having cited other judicial precedent ruled that when a group of people decide to resort to any alternative dispute resolution mechanism, it does not oust the jurisdiction of the court. Therefore, the tutors, if failed to exhaust all the internal grievances procedures in the GES, it doesn't warrant a dismissal of the their (tutors) suit or prevent them from taking the Court action. On the third issue however, the court respectfully submitted that the plaintiffs failed to adhere to the dictates of Section 10 (1) of the Civil Proceedings Act, 1998 Act 555 provides that, "A person who intends to institute a civil action against the Republic shall serve notice on the Attorney General a written notice of that intention at least, 30 days before the commencement of the action." The ruling described the noncompliance of the act as an error which can not be remedied by any other law. On the basis of the above, the writ was struck out but with liberty to reapply. Close contacts made with some of the tutors believed to be part of the plaintiffs to find out whether or not they intend fulfilling the demands of Section 10 of the Civil Proceedings Act, they remained tight-lipped. They only suggested we speak to their counsel. However, a deep throat at the Ashanti regional GES office has confirmed that the tutors have duly served notice on the attorney general and the GES to pursue the case further. Thank you very much minister. You are really a sensible man. These things have been a worry to all commuters but it takes someone like you to get them removed it's going to be a good X'mas gift to all. Kofi Dear Minister, it is all welcome to you to the peaceful region of Ashanti. You come at a time when we are in ecstasy for one reason or the other. First, our great King has returned peacefully and honourably from his sojourn to Brazil, and the wild allegations levelled against him have all been found to be bunkum. You know how Asantes believe and trust their kings, but this one is exceptional there is a reason why we call him King Solomon. He has a large heart for everyone. Among the large retinue of people that met the King at the Kumasi Airport were the Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah, his deputy Elizabeth Agyeman and the Kumasi Mayor, Osei Assibey Antwi. It was significant that some of the young men in NPP travelled from Accra to be part of the merry making team to welcome the King: Sammy Awuku, National Youth Organiser, Henry Nana Boakye (a.k.a. Nana B), Deputy Executive Director of the National Service Secretariat, Stephen Amoah Chief Executive Officer of MASLOC and Justin Kodua, Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Enterprise Agency (YEA) 'Nana nkwa so', the Akan version of 'Long Live, the King', was the bark and whoop everywhere, amidst the traditional 'kete' and 'adowa' songs. Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, resplendent in colourful suit, became a vocalist with an ensemble singing in recitatives and oratorio, that Thursday evening, October, 19, 2017. Second, on Tuesday, 24th October, 2017, a church service was held at the Saint Cyprian's Anglican Church at Fanti New Town. Archbishop Dr. Daniel Yinka Sarfo led a team of Reverend Anglican Ministers to bless Oheneba Aduse Poku (Akempemhene) who was offering his thanks to the Almighty for restoring him to good health. It was also to thank the Lord for the nomination of Oheneba Dr. Akyaa Opoku Ware as Ghana's Ambassador to Russia. You know the reason for my excitement? I thought, even though I am not as fluent in Russian as Dr Vladimir Antwi Danso, I would get the opportunity to share a few words in Russian, but it was 'ne bui' (not to be). While praying for them, we are titillated by the observation by the eminent and venerable Archbishop, Dr Yinkah: These are very well educated people and people of substance but they do not show off. Their humility will definitely carry them very far. Third, the impasse that arose between the State Transport Company (STC) and the GPRTU over the siting of the STC loading point at Asafo Market seems to be getting resolved. Ghana is not a lawless country, but you need sober heads in such a crisis. One of the owners of the fleet of V.I.P. buses, Mr Yaw Amponsah Marfo (a.k.a. Ewiase) would not wish to have any conflict with the state owned organisation. After all, the state owned company is for the good of all Ghanaians. As an ex policeman, Ewiase had constructed a police station for his home village near Mampong-Ashanti, knows full well that the VIP station had once been occupied by 'One pound, One pound' (Peugeot), Accra bound Benz buses, Issaka Awudu buses, Neoplan buses and the like. The Regional Minister showed maturity when, after a closed-door meeting, he proclaimed a freeze on the inauguration of the STC loading point at Asafo Market. There is the need for 'jaw jaw', that is dialogue, and the Ashanti Regional Minister had started the ball rolling. Fourth, the mob action by the Delta Force which sought to tarnish the NPP image, and paint the party black has been settled with the imposition of a fine of GH1800 on each of the thirteen NPP related vigilante group imposed by the Asokwa Circuit Court. The CDD thinks the punishment was too 'lenient': You cannot convince the ordinary man on the street that this is justice: because just as you are doing this, there are people that have been jailed for owing someone GH200. So you cannot create this kind of reality in society and expect that law and order will be respected. So, you may ask: What would have been the 'just' punishment for these breakers of the law? Is the law indeed an ass or was the verdict a slap on the wrist'? Honourable Minister, your intervention has put the icing on the cake of our merriment. The commuters of the Kumasi-Ejisu Road have, for long, complained about these traffic islands. Whereas it took me just about five minutes to drive from 'Ejisu Yard' to my home village of Kokobra Fumesua, in the past with a single lane, it now took me forty-five minutes to do that short journey on a dual carriage way. And the scores of accidents on the stretch! Hardly a week passes when one would not encounter a truck fallen by the road, and when that happens, it further worsens motoring. The KNUST police will tell you what has happened since these traffic islands were created as part of a design for the GH394 billion Danish government funded reconstruction of the 46 kilometer Kumasi Konongo Road Project in 2004. Sir, contrary to what the engineers have been conveying to us, because we are not engineers, you revealed: Engineering review has proven that we can remove them (the islands). There couldn't be any more appropriate occasion to give that directive than now. I am therefore, directing my Chief Director and all directors of agencies that within two months, before the end of the year, all these four roundabouts should be removed and the road straightened up and the entire stretch asphalted. Halleluia! Please, join me in singing praises to the Lord! An elated Regional Minister, Mr Simon Osei Mensah, couldn't hide his excitement when he responded: We will have a smooth flow of traffic from now and we are very grateful to them. We are happy that today, this problem by the end of the year, is going to be a thing of the past. Of course, the 'listening government' tag put on NPP is no fluke, and, Minister, you have proven that you will listen to all no matter how unpalatable some observations might seem. Now, non experts in engineering may suggest some solutions to the problem: traffic lights can do; speed humps can check the speeding vehicles. You could not have given us a better Christmas gift. There are other assurances: the Sofoline Interchange, the Lake Road, the Atwima Roads, et cetera. After all, my nocturnal visits to your not so humble abode at Sixth Lane, Community 11, Tema, have yielded, fruits. Sorry, I could not reciprocate (Iddi Amin would say 'retaliate') the nice gestures on your visit. I would not want to interfere in the protocol. Enjoy your stay in Ashanti. Let me recall my heyday (please, not 'heydays') as a music director in an institution: Wonya anigye a kae me oo, Owura Kwasi e, kae me oo, Kae me. I want to end my piece. Mesi ha kyea wo pii (and in my youthful days, a co tenant in my house at NA 100, Asafo , would add about a hundred 'I' to the 'pii'.) Asanteman da wo ase. [email protected] Africanus Owusu Ansah TECNO, a premier mobile phone brand under TranssionHoldings, has unveiled its newest smartphone, Phantom 8 in Ghana at Holiday Inn Hotel. The latest handset is powered by a 6GB high speed RAM, 64ROM, 2.6GHz MediaTekHelio P25processor, 3500mAh battery capacity, an impressive 20MP front camera and a dual rear camera of 12MP+13MP with 10x super zoom and a 50percent extra-fast charge capacity. Speaking at the launch ceremony, the General Manager of Business at TECNO Mobile, Daniel Glover said the Phantom series which is their flagship product has shown tremendous improvement in terms of specification and quality when compared to the previous Phantom 5, 6 and 6 plus. He noted that the new Phantom 8 allows customers to download up to 80 Apps without slowing down adding that it enables 50% of download speed and fully charges the phone in 70minutes. Mr. Glover indicated that customers who purchase the phone will enjoy 2GB MTN Data bundle monthly for 6months and also stand the chance of getting a free decoder, dish and cable from StarTimes. According to him, his outfit spends time and investment into Research and Development (R&D) taking cognizance the needs of the customer and what they stand to derive from these devices. It is worth noting that one of the surest ways of facilitating the access and usage of the digital address system and making it available to the citizens is through the use of smartphone, he stated. The General Manager added that mobile phones play a key role in economic development by enhancing the mobile money businesses that has become a major activity adopted by the telcos to deepen financial inclusion in the country. He noted that job creation has been a fixation of government indicating that the growth of the mobile phone dealers in the country has contribution immensely towards the growth and development of local businesses thereby reducing the unemployment rate. The incoming Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, Mr. Ken Ashigbey, the outgoing Managing Director of Graphic Communications intimated that since September 2014 when the Chamber supported TECNO to launch the Phantom Z, they continue to see an increasing growth of mobile connections which then stood at 29million. Today, as we launch the Phantom 8, we have over 37million mobile connections in Ghana. But one era of significant growth and promise in the mobile telephony industry in Ghana is using the power of mobile to enable digital identity, he noted. Two of President John Mahama's inner circle have been identified as his Achilles heel following the National Democratic Congress (NDC)'s defeat in the 2016 general elections. Former Communications Minister, Dr Omane Boamah, and Presidential Staff Stan Dogbe are mentioned in the Prof. Kwesi Botchwey report which investigated the party's fall from power after 8-years in charge. In interactions with sections of the press, the investigative committee was told, "doing away with Omane Boamah and Stan Dogbe could have earned the president one million votes so he didn't have to look to Ashanti region". The reference to Ashanti region is because the NDC unveiled a bold plan to snatch one million votes in the stronghold of its rival, the New Patriotic Party (NPP). The NDC presidential candidate eventually got 497,235 votes representing 23.02 percent, a drop in his 2012 performance of 28 percent. Bad blood between presidential staffer Stan Dogbe and the media is public knowledge with vocal media houses pushing for his sack notably after he smashed a journalist's recorder. Feedback from the Committee's media interactions pointed to the intolerance of the President's inner circle. "When you criticise the president, you are condemned", the report noted. The two "shadow actors", Dr Omane Boamah and Stan Dogbe reportedly convinced the president that he is "more popular than the NDC ticket". Following his defeat, the former President has suggested the party was a "lame horse" and no matter the driver's competency he cannot use it to win an election. This view of his defeat may synchronise with the report's claim that Dr. Boamah and Stan Dogbe fed the president with delusions of grandeur. But the two would point out that there is a media cabal against the Mahama administration. which contributed to the President's downfall. At least three people were shot dead Thursday in clashes over Kenya's election re-run, prompting officials to delay the vote in four counties as the country's worst political crisis in a decade deepened. The bloodshed stained Kenya's second presidential election in three months, worsening a fractious ballot that has been boycotted by opposition leader Raila Odinga and polarised east Africa's flagship democracy. Two of the deaths occurred as protests raged in opposition strongholds in the west of the country, while the third person died in a Nairobi slum where clashes erupted between demonstrators and police. The casualties raised to 43 the tally of people killed in election-related violence since the August election victory of President Uhuru Kenyatta, which was later overturned by the Supreme Court, prompting Thursday's re-run. There was no sign of the thick snaking queues of voters that characterised the August election in Kenya, whose results were annulled last month As voting drew to a close, election chief Wafula Chebukati made a televised address, saying the ballot would be postponed until Saturday in four protest-hit counties in the country's west: Kisumu, Homa Bay, Migori and Siaya. The move, he said, was due to "security-related" challenges. As Odinga's supporters hit the streets, others went to the polls to cast their ballots. But, in stark contrast to the August election, several polling stations in key areas stood empty or welcomed only a handful of voters in an election likely to face more legal battles after its conclusion. As voting headed to a close, police and hospital sources confirmed three people had been shot dead and at least 24 wounded, 11 of them by live rounds. At Jaramogi hospital in Odinga's western stronghold of Kisumu, an AFP correspondent saw several people arriving covered in blood. "This is crazy, they are shooting at us -- we are demonstrating and they shoot us!" said Samuel Okot, 20, who was sitting with his friend Joseph Ouma who had been shot in the knee and was howling in pain. A member of the Maasai tribe casts her ballot at Kajiado Primary School in a town 80km (50 miles) south of Nairobi as Kenya votes in a presidential re-run which is being boycotted by the opposition "What kind of country is this? Threat of more bloodshed The violence drew a sharp response from rights watchdog Amnesty International. "With tensions running high there is a very real threat of further bloodshed as the election re-run takes place," said Justus Nyangaya, director at Amnesty International Kenya. "We are calling on the police to only use force as a last resort -- unlawful police killings and other human rights violations must not be allowed to recur." In Kisumu, 19-year-old George Odhiambo died from blood loss after being shot in the thigh in clashes which erupted after protesters barricaded roads and polling stations to block the vote, police and hospital sources said. Police said another man was shot dead in Homa Bay, also in the west, "where a large mob attacked a small police facility" prompting officers to open fire "to protect themselves," a statement said. In Nairobi's Kibera slum, opposition protesters, some armed with machetes, clashed with police as they sought to block Kenya's divisive election re-run A third man died after being shot in the head in Nairobi's Mathare slum, another hotspot in the capital where protesters tried to block the vote and where police fired water cannon and teargas to disperse demonstrators. In the eastern port city of Mombasa, police said a man was stabbed as he was going out to vote, while in Kisumu a police officer was also wounded with a knife. Also in Mombasa, police said protesters in the city's Bangladesh slum had smeared faeces on the walls of a primary school that was to be used as a polling station. The election is the chaotic climax of a political drama that began when the Supreme Court overturned the victory of President Uhuru Kenyatta in the August 8 elections. Pyrrhic victory for Kenyatta? Map of Kenya locating places where clashes broke out between police and supporters of opposition leader Raila Odinga. Kenyans began voting Thursday in a repeat election that has polarised the nation. Kenyatta, who turned 56 on Thursday, is almost assured victory after veteran opposition leader Odinga withdrew, citing fears the poll would be marred by the same flaws which saw the August vote overturned. "Today, no fair election can take place. The government wants to force us to vote, but we did not want to do it and we will not do it," said Austin Olang, a 26-year-old maths teacher in Kisumu. Analysts say the boycott in east Africa's richest economy and one of its strongest democracies is likely to tarnish the credibility of Kenyatta's victory and deepen its worst political crisis since a 2007 election sparked politically-driven ethnic violence that left 1,100 dead. In the first election, turnout was nearly 80 percent among the 19 million registered voters. Kenyatta secured victory with 54 percent of the vote, while Odinga came second with 45 percent. "We don't want the ballot boxes and papers to reach polling stations," one demonstrator said in Kenya's western city of Kisumu, where opposition supporters have vowed to block the presidential re-run Odinga, 72, is a veteran opposition leader who followed in the footsteps of his father and inherited a dynastic rivalry with Kenyatta whose father was the country's first post-independence president. In areas loyal to Kenyatta, turnout was steady but still appeared to be far lower than during the first round. But in Odinga's main strongholds, polling officials were left twiddling their thumbs. Interfering, undermining The decision to cancel the August poll was initially hailed as a service to democracy in a country plagued by disputed elections. But the re-run has been dogged by chaos and acrimony, prompting western diplomats to blast Odinga and Kenyatta for fuelling division. Tamale, Oct 23, GNA - The District League Table (DLT) is not to name and shame Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) but rather to effectively assess their potentials, Mrs Mabel Amoako Atta, a Director at the Office of the Head of Local Government Service has said. She said this was to engender competition amongst MMDAs, as well as stimulate district level performance and further deepen decentralisation in the country. Mrs Amoako Atta was speaking at the Northern Regional pre-launch meeting on the 2017 DLT in Tamale on Monday. The meeting, organised by the Centre for Democratic Development-Ghana (CDD-Ghana) in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) with funding from United Nations Children Fund, was also to appraise MMDAs of the objectives, processes and outcome of DLT. The DLT seeks to assess, compare and measure the level of development in the provision and delivery of key public services in all 216 MMDAs in the country. It aims to strengthen social accountability in development throughout the country to improve responsiveness in service delivery and development. Mrs Amoako Atta said the local government service (LGS) had developed and implemented the Local Government Service Performance Management System (PMS) in a bid to improve institutional performance. She said 'The DLT, therefore, provides enough justification for the selection of indicators for the PMS by highlighting the challenges of the districts through the assessment.' Mr Salifu Saeed, Northern Regional Minister urged MMDAs to effectively execute their mandate to provide the needed socio-economic facilities to improve living conditions of the citizenry. Mr Saeed said 'This must not be seen as a mere competition on who has won, but rather a challenge that we have to confront as stakeholders that we have a responsibility to ensure and overcome the developmental challenges and obstacles in our communities.' 26.10.2017 LISTEN Mr Abdou Souleye Diop, Head of the African Commission and South-South Relations at the Confederation of General Enterprises of Morocco, says the African continent can only develop if Africans trust and work with each other to build it. He said it was important for Africans to trust each other if they were to build partnerships that will help the continent. Speaking at the Ghana-Morocco Business Forum, dubbed the 'African Power Road', held in Accra on Monday, he stated that Africans cannot afford to just wait and have international businesses and companies from the global north to come and build Africa. 'we need us, as Africans, to help ourselves to develop. We have the capacities, we have some expertise developed, we need ourselves to help each other to build our countries and for that, we need to link up with each other,' he said, adding 'It's important for Africans to trust Africans'. He explained that countries on the continent had to develop synergies with each other by sharing expertise that will benefit other, especially as the continent had everything, from natural resources to human resources. He said this had been hard for Africa because the continent was not united, and its citizens also trust products from Europe and other countries in the north more than made-in-Africa products, thus the need for regional integration. Morocco's bid to join ECOWAS, he noted will be a good step in this direction, as trade flows between Morocco and ECOWAS countries like Ghana was low. Morocco, he noted was a big producer of fruit juices but imported mangoes from Spain and other countries. 'Why can't we import mangoes from Ghana or Senegal? It's because of trade barriers and that cannot continue. We have real need of trade between our countries and for that we need to move barriers,' he said. He added that Morocco, once it became a member of ECOWAS could bring a new dynamic in the region, by sharing its expertise in agriculture and tourism, among others to ECOWAS. Integration would also help to build big infrastructure in sectors like energy, roads and other areas. Mr Diop said in order to build effective partnerships, it was also key for the partners to be pragmatic in their approach by focusing investments in areas where both countries have expertise that will benefit the other and in line with each country's priority sectors. He added that the cooperation must also be balanced for it to be sustainable. 'Today we are here as Moroccan companies coming to build cooperation with Ghanaian companies; we need also Ghana companies to also come to invest in Morocco,' he said, and urged the GIPC and GNCCI to arrange a meeting by first quarter 2018. Mr Carlos Kingsley Ahenkorah, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, charged the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), the Ghana Export Promotion Authority and the Free Zones Board, to, as a matter of urgency, organise a business delegation to Morocco before the end of year or in the first quarter of 2018. He also tasked the Ghanaian businesses present to take advantage of the presence of their Moroccan counterparts and to ensure they got business partnerships from the Forum. He assured the businesses present that government was working and committed to support the private sector to deepen trade relations between Ghana and other countries. He said government was implementing reforms aimed at making Ghana the most business friendly nation in Africa, and to remove the bottlenecks that prevented trade. Mr Mark Badu Aboagye, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI), partners in the organisation of the Forum, said Morocco's King Mohammed VI visit to Ghana led to the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) in various sectors. The Forum was a follow up to the Ghana -Morocco Economic meeting held in February this year and which occasioned the visit of King Mohammed VI to Ghana. The Business Forum was therefore to promote trade relations between companies of the two countries. Over 80 Moroccan and about 300 Ghanaian businesses participated in the forum, which from sectors including banking, building and civil engineering, energy, infrastructure, waste management and information technology, among others. Mr Aboagye noted that the forum was important in light of the low trade levels between Ghana and Morocco, which stood below one percent of imports on both sides. 'Both governments of Ghana and Morocco have committed themselves to deepen bilateral trade for mutual economic growth and it is my fervent hope that business men and women gathered here will maximise this opportunity to grow their business through partnerships,' he stated. The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has encouraged women to be more assertive and actively participate in political decision-making at all levels. Mr. George Amponsah Boateng, a Civic Education Officer of the Commission in the Asante-Akim North District, said they should refuse to be marginalized or accept stereotypes. He added that they should strive to have a stronger voice on issues affecting their daily lives. He was speaking at a meeting held with the Women's Fellowship of Agogo Presbyterian Church as part of the stepped up effort by the NCCE to aid the people to live up to their civic responsibilities. Mr. Boateng described as disheartening the disinterest of many women in contesting for elective positions and said that needed to radically change. He asked them to be bold to put themselves up for election - right from the unit committee to the national elections. Women should take up leadership positions in the church, community and workplaces. He used the occasion to remind the fellowship about the need to focus priority on good character training of children - to be disciplined, law-abiding and to show respect for the elderly and people in authority. He said this was the way forward to assure the nation of responsible future leaders. Mrs. Priscilla Atuahene, President of the Fellowship, applauded the NCCE for the good job it was doing to assist the people not only to protect their fundamental rights but to also have better understanding of their duties as citizens. 26.10.2017 LISTEN Mr Maxwell Gbaka, a former Ho Municipal Director of Education, has appealed to government to resource the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) to help it restore the 'spirit of nationalism' in the populace. He noted that values such as patriotism and punctuality were almost lost on the citizenry and underscored the need for the Commission to develop programmes that would inculcate such virtues in the country's youth. Mr. Gbaka said this at the second edition of the Regional inter-schools 'E- Constitution' quiz competition for selected second cycle institutions in the region by the NCCE, with support from the European Union, on the theme, 'Restoring Ghanaian Value'. The competition was to introduce students to the country's constitution, their rights and responsibilities to the State. Mr. Gbaka said national identity was vital in promoting rapid socio-economic development and encouraged young people to embrace the use of local languages. Mr Courage De-Zanga, a youth activist asked students to uphold a high level of discipline and desist from vandalizing state properties in schools. He observed that students have uncontrolled access to social media, which was affecting their academic performance and urged parents to supervise their access to such electronic devices. The Saint Catherine Senior High School at Sogakope emerged winners of the competition with 217 points, followed by Anlo Senior High School, 173 points and Kpeve Senior High School, 168 points. In all ten Senior High Schools took part in the competition. GNA By Ebenezer Sowah, GNA 26.10.2017 LISTEN Low vision students in the Volta Region have blamed their poor performance in the Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE) on neglect by the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) in the Region. Mr Eric Ofori, National Coordinator, New Horizon Foundation for the Blind, said over the years they had received complaints about how WAEC was deserting students with low vision in BECEs against directives from the Ghana Education Service (GES). He alleged that the WAEC had refused to provide special examination materials and magnifying glasses to students with low vision, for which reason many of them performed poorly. Mr Ofori said there were students who did not get placement into any Senior High Schools this year not because they were not 'smart enough' but because they had low vision. He alleged that one Miss Beauty Sakyi, 16, a former student of Atiatime E.P. Junior High School (JHS) in the Ho Municipality, who has low vision was not placed in any SHS, because she did not perform well in the BECE due to lack of magnifying glasses. Mr Ofori said the situation was compelling a good number of students with low vision to drop out of school and appealed to stakeholders to help address the challenge. Meanwhile, WAEC officials in Ho have declined to comment on the issue. 26.10.2017 LISTEN Mr Akilu Sayibu, a Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), has said the One District one Warehouse project would help exporters and potential ones in the storage of their produce. Speaking with a cross-section of the media in Accra after the launch of the project, Mr Sayibu commended President Nana Akufo Addo for the project, explaining that the warehouses would help both existing and potential exporters under the One District, One Exportable Product initiative which GEPA is embarking on in all 216 Districts. According to the Deputy GEPA Boss, the issue of storage of farm produce came up strongly in the various regional seminars of GEPA regarding the One District One Export product. It is in this direction that the One District One Warehouse initiative under the planting for food and jobs of the Ministry of Agriculture as a project will be of great support to exporters in the area of warehousing, he said. The Ghana Export Promotion Authority is currently embarking on Stakeholder Seminars in the various Regions on the One District One Export Product initiative aimed at increasing earnings from non traditional exports to $10 billion dollars in the next four years. The regional seminars have taken place in the Eastern, Volta, Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and the three Regions in the north. It was expected that the various stakeholder seminars would cover the entire regions of Ghana before the end of the year, Mr Sayibu said. 26.10.2017 LISTEN Daniel Nunoo, a 38 year old man, has appeared before an Accra District Court charged with attempted murder. Nunoo, who has been washing vehicles for a living, is said to have stabbed her ex-lover in her abdomen for snubbing him when he approached her at a funeral. After the act, Nunoo is said to have left her former lover to her fate. The court presided over by Mr Worlanyo Kotoku did not take Nunoo's plea and remanded him into Police custody pending further investigations into the matter. Nunoo is scheduled to reappear on November 7. Prosecuting Detective Sergeant Simeon Terkpor told the court that the complainant, Charlotte Kai Adjetey aged 29, is a Cook residing at La, Accra. The accused person also resides in the same area. According to Sergeant Terkpor, the accused and Ms Adjetey were in a relationship and they cohabited and also had a child who is nine years old. Due to Nunoo's constant abuse on Ms Adjetey, prosecution said the complainant opted out of the relationship and the accused became peeved. On October 8, this year, Nunoo and Ms Adjetey attended a funeral and whilst she was leaving, Nunoo called her but she snubbed him. Detective Sergeant Terkpor said the behaviour of the complainant did not go down well with Nunoo so he grabbed Charlotte and stabbed her with an implement. Ms Adjetey bled and became unconscious, the prosecutor said. 'The accused person left the complainant to her fate, however she rescued by two men, who rushed her to the 37 Military Hospital, where she was admitted and two surgeries performed on her,' prosecution added. On October 18, this year, Detective Terkpor said Nunoo was arrested and handed over to the Police. 26.10.2017 LISTEN Akosua Agyapong, a highlife musician, who is accused of conspiring with her brother to defraud a businessman of GH105,000.00 in a land transaction deal has pleaded not guilty. Appearing before the court on Tuesday, Akosua was admitted to bail in the sum of GH160,000.00 with three sureties, one to be a public or civil servant earning not less than GH2,000.00. She is expected to reappear on November 13 before the court presided over by Mrs Cecilia Dapaa Mireku. Earlier, Akosua's defence Attorney, Mr G.H. Quist informed the court that his client was indisposed at the last sitting hence could not be present in court. However soon after her recovery, Akosua has respectfully turned up in court, Defence counsel said. Defence counsel in his bail application intimated that Akosua, who is a Ghanaian, has a fixed place of abode and would present herself in court whenever she was needed. According to defence counsel, Akosua would not interfere with investigations and would cooperate with the Police. At the last sitting Akosua did not turn up in court when the case was called. Her accomplice Frank Agyemang, a businessman, a.k.a. Killer Boss, has been charged with conspiracy to commit crime and fraudulent transaction of land. Frank Agyemang, who has also pleaded not guilty at the last sitting, is on bail in the sum of GH160,000.00 with three sureties with one to be justified. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Agnes Boafo, prosecuting said the complainant in the case was a car dealer whiles Agyemang is a building contractor. According to ASP Boafo, in February this year, the businessman wanted a parcel of land by the roadside to display his cars for sale. As a result, he contacted Akosua for assistance. The musician, the prosecutor said, told the businessman that she had a plot of land for rent, but the businessman wanted an outright sale. ASP Boafo said Akosua later introduced Agyemang to the complainant as her brother, who had one plot of land opposite the West Hills Mall for sale. The businessman after inspecting the land expressed interest. The Prosecutor said Akosua assured the complainant that the land was genuine and that Agyemang was the rightful owner. 'They then took the businessman to the Lands Commission, went into one of the offices and came out with someone who confirmed that the land indeed belonged to Agyemang, and upon this, the businessman became convinced,'' she added. Afterwards, the prosecutor said, the businessman paid GH105,000.00 for the land and later gave a Toyota RAV 4 vehicle costing GH100,000.00 to Agyemang for another plot of land. 'When the complainant went to work on the land, another person came to him claiming ownership of the land with the original documents. He reported the matter to the police leading to Akosua and Agyemang's arrest. Agyemang, through his uncle, has released the vehicle to the police,'' the prosecutor said. 26.10.2017 LISTEN Kumasi, Oct 24, GNA - Apostle Samuel Lord Agyin, former Area Head of the Effiduase Pentecost Church, has admonished the church to speak up for the suffering and denounce social injustices. He expressed discomfort with the situation, where many a Christian failed to stand for what was right and to speak against the wrongs and the failings of the society. That, he said, could only lead to the predictable outcome of corruption and lawlessness. Apostle Agyin was delivering the sermon at a service held to climax the Silver Jubilee celebration of the South Suntreso District Pentecost Church in Kumasi. The weeklong event was held under the theme 'Celebrating 25 years of God's faithfulness through worship'. Activities marking it included revival and prayer meetings, and clean up exercises. Apostle Agyin urged Christians to remain unwavering in their faith and be confident about the future. He added that they also lived their religious faith - let their lives reflect Christ-like qualities of modesty, integrity, love and service to humanity. He said it was by so doing that they would become a positive influence on society. Pastor Joseph Asumadu Berchie, the District Pastor, entreated the congregation to trust in the faithfulness of God and accept to work hard to build on the strong foundation laid by their predecessors. He mentioned the opening of 13 additional assemblies of the church and ordination of nine pastors as some major achievements made over the period. Accra, GHANA- Senior officials from the U.S. Government and the Government of the Republic of Ghana met on October 25 to discuss progress in achieving the objectives of the U.S.-Ghana Child Protection Compact (CPC) Partnership the first-ever jointly-developed plan to address forced child labor and child sex trafficking in Ghana. The Ghanaian government representatives, the Honorable Otiko Afisa Djaba, Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection and Chair of the Human Trafficking Management Board; the Honorable Ignatius Bafuor Awuah, Minister for Employment and Labor Relations, the Deputy Minister of Justice Joseph Kpemka, and a representative from the Ministry of the Interior were joined by U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Robert P. Jackson and Kari Johnstone, Acting Director, U.S. State Departments Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP Office), during the half-day discussion focused on specific objectives of the five-year Partnership. We are pleased to partner with Ghana and we offer our continuing support for this unique Partnership, the first of its kind in the world, commented Acting Director Kari Johnstone. Many children are vulnerable to human trafficking due to economic hardships in Ghana, and some are subjected to forced child labor within Ghana in fishing, domestic service, street hawking, begging, portering, quarrying, artisanal gold mining, and agriculture. Ghanaian girls, and to a lesser extent boys, are also subjected to sex trafficking within Ghana. A community-level baseline prevalence study conducted by Free the Slaves in 20 communities in 2016, found that 35% of households in the surveyed communities had a victim of trafficking or trafficking-like conditions. All participants acknowledged the challenges, including Ghanas low number of traffickers prosecuted and convicted under the Human Trafficking Act. The Ghanaian government highlighted several recent successes in the fight against child trafficking: Development and implementation of Ghanas National Plan of Action for the Elimination of Human Trafficking in Ghana (NPA) and disbursement of 1.5 million Ghana cedis ($343,000) for trafficking victims services in 2017; Government contributions to the renovation of the shelter for child trafficking victims, including a new perimeter fence, and a reliable water supply; Government contributions of 80,000 for shelter operations and 11,000 for the care of rescued children at three private shelters; Increased efforts by the government, working cooperatively with anti-trafficking NGOs, to mount coordinated operations to remove 159 children from trafficking situations and provide them with assistance, arrest 79 suspected traffickers, and prosecute and convict two traffickers under the anti-trafficking act; Endorsement and plans to implement the Standard Operating Procedures to Combat Human Trafficking in Ghana, which were developed through the interagency CPC Partnership Technical Working Group with support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM); and A commitment to adopting systematic trafficking data collection to enhance the governments ability to monitor and report anti-trafficking activities. Our ministries are committed to investing Ghanas resources to fulfill the objectives of the CPC Partnership to ensure Ghanaian children are not subjected to forced labor or sexual exploitation, said Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection Otiko Afisa Djaba. The TIP Office provided $5 million to two implementing partners, IOM and Free the Slaves, to support achievement of the CPC Partnerships goals and objectives, which include establishing a more holistic approach to improving coordination of government and civil society anti-trafficking efforts; enhancing Ghanas capacity to investigate, prosecute, and convict child traffickers and recorded data on these activities; expanding specialized services for child trafficking victims; and increasing public awareness of the nature of child trafficking, its devastating impact on children, and promoting prevention of this crime. Through U.S. government funding under the CPC Partnership, IOM provided the Ghana Police Service Anti-Human Trafficking Units with six vehicles and investigative equipment and organized 22 training programs for approximately 500 individuals from the Ghana police and immigration services, social welfare department, labor department, attorney generals department, and the judiciary. The trainings focused on identification and screening of human trafficking victims, direct assistance, as well as investigation, prosecution, and adjudication of child trafficking cases. Free the Slaves, in collaboration with local NGO partners International Needs Ghana, Right to be Free, Challenging Heights, Don Bosco Child Protection Center, and Partners in Community Development trained 114 traditional authorities and local government officials in identifying and appropriately responding to child trafficking, worked with local communities and law enforcement to remove 127 children and eight adults from labor trafficking situations, provided 196 individuals with shelter and other services, reached more than 7,600 people through awareness raising activities, and convened a national symposium that approximately 100 stakeholders attended to develop strategies to combat trafficking. The CPC Partnership, signed in Accra in June 2015, outlines the commitment of the four participating ministries the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection; the Ministry of Justice; the Ministry of the Interior; and the Ministry of Employment and Labor Relations and the United States of America to work collaboratively to enhance the protection of Ghanaian children and hold traffickers accountable for their crimes through arrests, prosecutions, and convictions. Activities have focused primarily in the three regions of Volta, Central, and Greater Accra. For further information: Read the CPC Partnership signed between the Government of the United States and the Government of the Republic of Ghana. Learn more about the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons or follow on Twitter and Facebook . Learn more about Free the Slaves-Ghana . Learn more about International Organization on Migration Ghana . 26.10.2017 LISTEN Under the fundamental laws of the republic of Ghana, one law stands unequivocal and grants the people of Ghana the right to freedom without any bug. The law in itself is a reflection of declaration made in 1948 under Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR) Article 19 which stipulates that Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without any interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. Article 12(1) of the 1992 Constitution binds all the citizens and spectators alike living within the confines of the Republic of Ghana that, all shall obey the fundamental human rights and freedoms, especially the freedom of the media which was tremendously calculated and added into the fundamental human rights of the republic of Ghana under Article 165 of the Constitution. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of this Chapter shall not be taken to limit the enjoyment of any of the fundamental human rights and freedoms guaranteed under Chapter 5 of this Constitution. Those whom the framers of the constitution feared the threat to these freedoms could come from are categorically mentioned under Article 12(1) of the constitution and it is required that, all those mentioned in that category shall live to the bitter taste of accepting others to talk and air freely without hindrance or censorship. Article 162(3) further espouse and warns that there shall be no impediments to the establishment of private press or media; therefore if any government agency for the want of praise from the Executive, makes provisions for a fee to be charged on any press might ignorantly be violating this constitutional provision and we are aware, the Parliament of Ghana shall not endorse or condone to violate this basic but very desirous constitutional provision. There shall be no impediments to the establishment of private press or media; and in particular, there shall be no law requiring any person to obtain a license as a prerequisite to the establishment or operation of a newspaper, journal or other media for mass communication or information. Article 162(3) Those mentioned to stay away from violating these constitutional provisions include but not limited to our President, his Cabinet and team of Ministers, the Right Honorable Speaker of Parliament and his buddies of Honorable Members of Parliament and then Her Ladyship the Chiefs Justice and her group of Luminary Members of the Bar in that, they form the bases of the State, who, led by the President entered into the international covenant to guarantee and protect fundamental human rights and shall be liable to international Covenants if they trample on the fundamental laws recognized by the world which includes Press Freedom. Article 40.d. of the 1992 Constitution has it that In its dealings with other nations, the Government shall (a) adhere to the principles enshrined in or as the case may be, the aims and ideals of-i the Charter of the United Nations; ii. the Charter of the Organization of African Unity; iii. the Commonwealth; iv. the Treaty of the Economic Community of West African States; Article 73 of the 1992 Constitution has it that The Government of Ghana shall conduct its international affairs in consonance with the accepted principles of public international law and diplomacy in a manner consistent with the national interest of Ghana. The fundamental human rights and freedoms enshrined in this Chapter shall be respected and upheld by the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary and all other organs of government and its agencies and, where applicable to them, by all natural and legal persons in Ghana, and shall be enforceable by the courts as provided for in this Constitution. 12(1). After the defeat of Culture of Silence and appearance of Radio Eye in Ghana, it begrudges us to phantom if any political entity in Ghana shall make provisions for any law in whatever form that shall gag on the freedom of expression and media in Ghana and that, the Voice of the People being the Parliament of Ghana should disregard any purported action by the Executive and its agencies into imposing any form of fees, tax or its like in a manner of monetary payment to the State that shall be placed on the media. In fact we buttress our views with the constitutional provisions Article 162.2 that stipulates that Subject to this Constitution and any other law not inconsistent with this Constitution, there shall be no censorship in Ghana. No Censorship literally means no restriction, no suppression, no control, no cutting, no editing, no bowdlerization, and no expurgation in Ghana and that the antonym is freedom of the media. If we would then go by the version of this constitutional jargon, any imposition of tax is tantamount to censorship and therefore unconstitutional and no Act of parliament shall legitimize it until and unless Article 162(2) is amended. Imposition of tax on speech broadcast is another way of daunting free flow of information to general public that our Dear Parliament should not entertain and if any law has already been expressed in that direction, we must or should invoke Article 108 of the 1992 Constitution to get any levy, fee or tax on freedom of expression and the media reduced to the barest minimum such that free flow of diverse views could flow and float in Ghana on 24/7. Should there be any legislation to that effect requiring some fees to be paid to the State for free media, we must with all urgency seek it to be repealed. Accordingly we must bar any authority not to gag freedom of expression because it is in itself a threat to our fundamental human rights recognized by Article 165 of the 1992 Constitution. Media Rights and Freedoms to Be Additional To Fundamental Human Rights Article 21 of the 1992 Constitution collaborates same when it says that All persons shall have the right to (a) freedom of speech and expression, which shall include freedom of the press and other media; Article 21(1992 Constitution) As Honorable Members of Parliament elected by the masses through the same medium of free expression of opinions, we must ensemble resist any attempt to infringe, stifle and gag freedom of the media using tax as a tool. Our members of Parliament should remember, some nefarious laws were passed by Kwame Nkrumahs Parliament which Ghanaians have noted to be arbitral and un-Ghanaian. We must frown now, on anything that shall gag Media Freedom. Munir Saani The president of the Central African Republic, Faustin-Archange Touadera, on Thursday vowed to push ahead with a contested programme of "dialogue" with militia groups, in comments backed by visiting UN chief Antonio Guterres. At a joint press conference on the penultimate day of a four-day visit by Guterres, Touadera said a programme of "disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration" of armed groups was at the "centre" of his strategy. Guterres said Touadera had "the entire support of the United Nations" and appealed to militias to "agree to participate in the country's political life". Militia groups hold sway over most of the impoverished central African country -- the outcome of a bloody conflict in which the then president Francois Bozize was ousted by Muslim "Seleka" rebels and replaced by Touadera after French intervention and elections. Touadera's dialogue project began in pilot form in September, with the introduction of several militia representatives into the government in a bid to encourage disarmament and integration. But the initiative has met with widespread scepticism, given that armed groups are still being accused of atrocities and looting. Thousands of civilians have lost their lives and half a million people have been displaced in the conflict out of a population of roughly 4.5 million. The representative of a regional group, the Economic Community of Central African States, said the bloc would pursue a "an African peace initiative" for CAR that ECCAS and the African Union were launched at the end of 2016. "We are determined to go to the very end," the ECCAS ambassador to CAR, Adolphe Nahayo, told French media, adding that he hoped for an agreement with armed groups within the next six months. Guterres and Touadera visited a monument to victims of the conflict in Bangui, where they laid a wreath. On Wednesday, Guterres visited Bangassou, a predominantly Christian town of 35,000 people around 700 kilometres (450 miles) east of Bangui which has been one of the areas worst hit by violence. He spoke to displaced people, most of them Muslim, who have holed up in a Catholic seminary, and fear bloody attacks by the anti-Balaka, a nominally Christian militia. His trip comes in the context of a looming decision by the UN Security Council on whether to renew the mandate, which expires next month, of its 12,500-troop peacekeeping force, MINUSCA. He is lobbying for the mandate to be renewed and for an additional 900 troops. The Ashanti Regional Police have arrested a 34-year-old man who has been parading himself as a law lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). Micheal Asante, also known as Lawyer Asante or Micheal Yaw Antwi Boasiako has according to the police, defrauded a number of persons of an amount of GHS748,000 under the pretext of securing them contracts. The fake lawyer also promised to, among other things enlist some of his victims into the security services, get them admissions into tertiary institutions and other unspecified jobs. He, however, failed to fulfil his promise and went into hiding until his arrest on October 24, 2017. Police say investigations conducted so far have revealed that the suspect also parades himself as a legal consultant. On other occasions, he presents himself to his unsuspecting clients as a travel consultant and a Senior State Attorney at the Attorney Generals office in Kumasi. During the month of April through to October 2017, introduced himself to two contractors as a special assistant to the CEO of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) with a promise that he could secure them contracts to build oil storage tanks for the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR). He then asked the two contractors to pay him an amount of GHS695,000 to facilitate the process for them. The two contractors then gave him the said amount, but he failed to honour his promise and went into hiding. The two mentioned the issue to a National Security Operative who managed to arrest him at Kumasi in his vehicle and handed him over to the Police. Investigations have also revealed that he is not a special assistant to the CEO of GNPC neither has he gotten any transactions with TOR. He has, however, admitted having collected the said amount from the complainants but did not give it to anybody at TOR as he told the complainants. In the course of the investigations, others having heard of his arrest also reported to the Regional CID and complained that suspect Micheal Asante under the same guise collected various sums of money ranging from GHS5,000 to GHS40,000 to assist in enlisting them into the security services, secure them admissions into the tertiary institutions and secure them jobs in some Ministries and Agencies. Investigations also revealed that suspect Micheal Asante is involved in a series of fraud cases in Accra and Kumasi and is being prosecuted in the Law Courts. The police believe that there are victims who have fallen prey to his fraudulent activities and are urging them to report to the Regional CID to assist in further investigations. 26.10.2017 LISTEN The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) condemns the murder of yet another journalist in Afgoye Corridor in Lower specially Arbiska in Lower Shabelle Province about 25 KM South of the Somali capital Mogadishu putting four the number of the killed journalists in Somalia this year alone. Jacfar Ali Daacad who works for Dayah FM radion in Afgoye was among more than 10 people including students killed by AU peacekeepers after an exchange fire between African Union Peacekeepers known as AMISOM and Alshabaab islamist militant group , an eye witness told NUSOJ by phone. AU peacekeepers patrolling the Afgoye corridor were ambushed by militants and heavy exchange fire was going on about half an hour . The eye witness account added. Our colleague, Jacfar Ali Daacad was killed after an exchange fire between Alshabaab militants and AMISOM . Bullets hit on the head .He was rushed to Madina hospital in Mogadishu but he was immediately pronounced dead .His body was now brought back to Afgoye and we are preparing his burial . Mohamed Ali Zaad the deputy director of Dayah radio told NUSOJ. The National Union of Somali Journalists condemns this heinous murder against our colleague journalist in the strongest terms possible and call the Somali authorities to probe and bring the perpetrators to justice. The union also sends its sympathies and condolences to the families and friends of late Jacfar Ali Daacad. On behalf of the Somali Journalists, I send my sympathies and condolences to the families and friends of Jacfar Ali Daacad. Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimuu, Secretary General of the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) said, We condemn the assassination act in the strongest terms possible and call for the Somali authorities to immediately investigate the murder against our colleague and other civilians and bring the perpetrators to a court of law. Jacfar Ali Daacad was a producer and sometimes newscaster for the privately owned FM radio named Dayah radio based in the town of Agoye and in the morning he was working as a part-time job for Alfurqaan Primary school in Arbiska. NUSOJ contacted to Spokesperson of African Union Peacekeeping Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to find out more details of the incident but said they will provide later the correct information . Somali journalist Abdullahi Osman Moalim died on Wednesday 13,2017 from injuries he sustained after an al Shabaab suicide bomb attack on a restaurant in central Somalia town of Beletwein. Ali Nur Said Ahmed and Abdullahi Osman Farah ,two local journalists in Mogadishu were among the people killed in deadly truck bombing on October 14,2017. The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ finally urges all parties involved in the conflict in Somalia to take drastic actions to protect journalists as well as open judicial investigations into the death of the killed journalist DCE for Gomoa East, Hon. Benjamin Kojo Otoo 26.10.2017 LISTEN The Chief Executive Officer of Universal Merchant Bank (Umb), Mr. John Awuah has announced that the bank is collaborating with Crown Forest Limited, a Ghanaian based company to employ over 1,200 youth through establishment of Safari eco- park at Gomoa Nsuem in the Gomoa East District of the Central Region. Crown Forest Limited backed by Financial support from Universal Mechant Bank (umb) has subsequently acquired 820 acre land to establish and develop a Safari eco-parko, adventure and conference tourism center. " The project when completed would be the first private Safari eco- park in West Africa and probably in the African Continent. The Park would offer a unique combination of widelife and hospitality that are currently undeveloped in Ghana. The 500 acre Safari park would have collection of animals including Zebras, giraffes, impalas, waterbucks and red hartebeests. Others include greater kudus, hippocampus, roanns and oribis " Mr. John Awuah announced this at a Durbar organized for Chiefs and People of Gomoa Nsuem and its environs to sensitize them on the importance of the park and its economic value to the community. " Workers would not be required to have any certificate for employment. There are categories of jobs to be done here. These include Tour Guide, aquaculture and others. The youth in this vicinity should ensure total protection of the park because it would enhance their standard of living" He educated them about the harmless nature of the animals that would be roaming on the park and the need for harmonious living of humans and wildlife. The Chief Executive Officer of Crown Forest Limited, Mr. Samuel Winful stated that the company decided to site the project at Gomoa Nsuem because it was convient for eco tourism and about 60 minutes drive from the capital city. He noted that other services to be offered by the Safari eco park would include game watching, trekking, friut picking, swimming, indoor and outdoor games, gymnasium and others. " The Safari Project is expected to attract tourists from the International Community. This will boost Tourism Industry in Ghana and subsequently generate revenue for the District Assembly and Central Government as well. We are working hand in hand with Ministry of Tourism to ensure the realization of this project. Crown Forest also intend developing a Slave Route Colonial Slave Master used in the Slave Trade era which fortunately passes through the project site. The Historical Route would also attract tourists to visit the site and learn more about the reality of the Slave Trade" The Gomoa East District Chief Executive and the Member of Parliament for Gomoa Central, Hon. Benjamin Kojo Otoo and Hon. Naana Eyiah Quansah respectively lauded Management of Crown Forest Limited and Universal Merchant Bank for the project that would create jobs for the teeming unemployed youth in Gomoa Nsuem and its surrounding communities. They disclosed that project was in line with His Excellency President Akuffo Addo led NPP government's job creation policy to reduce economic hardships associated with the District. The DCE called on the people to give the company the needed corporation to ensure the success of the project in a short possible time. In her welcome address, the Odikrohenmaa of Gomoa Nsuem, Nana Esi Bentuma II said the people of the nearby communities fully support the project expressing the hope that economic activities of the people would be improved. Nana Adofrakye V, Omankrado of the Gomoa Akyempim Traditional Area who chaired the function said Nananom were extremely happy and fully accepts Safari Park to be sited in the Traditional Area. Abidjan, Cote dIvoire, 26 October 2017 The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a line of credit (LOC) of US$ 3 million (synthetic local currency equivalent) to Union Trust Bank Sierra Leone (UTB) to help finance projects and enterprises in transformational sectors such as agriculture, energy, manufacturing and services, with strong emphasis on women-owned businesses. UTB is the only indigenous private bank in Sierra Leone and an important provider of finance for indigenous micro, small and medium- sized enterprises. This facility also entails the provision of Technical Assistance support of US$ 320,000 and an additional US$ 300,000 from the Transition Support Facility to subsidize the cost of a synthetic swap associated with conversion of the proceeds of the facility into local currency for ease of lending to local businesses. The facility is expected to deliver strong development outcomes by enhancing access to finance (under competitive terms and longer tenors than typically available in Sierra Leone) to SMEs, indigenous firms and women-owned enterprises in Sierra Leone as the country seeks to rebuild following the widespread damage caused by the Ebola Viral Disease epidemic and more recently, devastating mudslides which displaced thousands of people. Most of the funding is expected to be channeled towards women and rural dwellers. The project will enhance private sector development, by demonstrating the viability of investing in growth oriented SMEs. Increased revenue by the beneficiaries at sub-project level will lead to incremental tax accrual to governments. The facility will also support financial inclusion, gender and social benefits as well as fiscal impacts. This will be the first Line of Credit by the AfDB to UTB and demonstrates AfDBs continued commitment to assist Regional Member Countries experiencing fragility. At least three people were shot dead Thursday in clashes over Kenya's election re-run, prompting officials to delay the vote in four counties and further tarnishing the credibility of a deeply divisive poll. As counting began after a day marked by bloodshed and poor voter turnout, President Uhuru Kenyatta was headed for a landslide victory after his rival Raila Odinga pulled out. The re-run was called after the Supreme Court overturned the results of an initial August poll. Two deaths occurred as protests raged in opposition strongholds in the west of the country, while the third person died in a Nairobi slum where clashes erupted between demonstrators and police. Unconfirmed reports suggested another two people may have been killed. The confirmed casualties raised to 43 the tally of people killed in election-related violence since the August poll. As voting drew to a close, election chief Wafula Chebukati made a televised address, saying the ballot would be postponed until Saturday in four protest-hit counties in the country's west: Kisumu, Homa Bay, Migori and Siaya. The move, he said, was due to "security-related" challenges. But Kisumu's governor Anyang Nyongo rejected the move, saying people would not vote while they were "mourning". A vote for Jesus There was no sign of the thick snaking queues of voters that characterised the August election in Kenya, whose results were annulled last month While Odinga's supportershit the streets, others went to the polls to cast their ballots. But, in stark contrast to the August election, several polling stations in key areas stood empty or welcomed only a handful of voters in an election likely to face more legal battles after its conclusion. At one polling station in Nairobi's Kibera slum, rocks bounced off the roof as officials tallied just 16 votes -- all for Kenyatta. In the middle-class neighbourhood of Kilimani, turnout at St Georges school was only 42 percent, with Kenyatta scoring the large majority -- although one person wrote in the name of Jesus, and voted for him. As voting headed to a close, police and hospital sources confirmed three people had been shot dead and around 50 others wounded, most by live bullets, according to an AFP tally of figures from officials and medics. A member of the Maasai tribe casts her ballot at Kajiado Primary School in a town 80km (50 miles) south of Nairobi as Kenya votes in a presidential re-run which is being boycotted by the opposition At the Jaramogi hospital in Kisumu, an AFP correspondent saw several people arriving covered in blood. "This is crazy, they are shooting at us -- we are demonstrating and they shoot us!" said Samuel Okot, 20, who was sitting with his friend Joseph Ouma who had been shot in the knee and was howling in pain. "What kind of country is this? Threat of more bloodshed In Nairobi's Kibera slum, opposition protesters, some armed with machetes, clashed with police as they sought to block Kenya's divisive election re-run The violence drew a sharp response from rights watchdog Amnesty International. "With tensions running high there is a very real threat of further bloodshed as the election re-run takes place," said Justus Nyangaya, director at Amnesty International Kenya. "We are calling on the police to only use force as a last resort -- unlawful police killings and other human rights violations must not be allowed to recur." In Kisumu, 19-year-old George Odhiambo died from blood loss after being shot in the thigh during clashes which erupted after protesters barricaded roads and polling stations to block the vote, police and hospital sources said. Police said another man was shot dead in Homa Bay, also in the west, "where a large mob attacked a small police facility" prompting officers to open fire "to protect themselves," a statement said. Map of Kenya locating places where clashes broke out between police and supporters of opposition leader Raila Odinga. Kenyans began voting Thursday in a repeat election that has polarised the nation. A third man died after being shot in the head in Nairobi's Mathare slum, another hotspot in the capital where police fired water cannon and teargas to disperse demonstrators. In the eastern port city of Mombasa, police said a man was stabbed as he was going out to vote, while in Kisumu a police officer was also wounded with a knife. Also in Mombasa, police said protesters in the city's Bangladesh slum had smeared faeces on the walls of a primary school that was to be used as a polling station. Pyrrhic victory for Kenyatta? "We don't want the ballot boxes and papers to reach polling stations," one demonstrator said in Kenya's western city of Kisumu, where opposition supporters have vowed to block the presidential re-run Analysts say the boycott in east Africa's richest economy and one of its strongest democracies is likely to tarnish the credibility of Kenyatta's victory and deepen its worst political crisis since a 2007 election sparked politically-driven ethnic violence that left 1,100 dead. "Today, no fair election can take place. The government wants to force us to vote, but we did not want to do it and we will not do it," said Austin Olang, a 26-year-old maths teacher in Kisumu. In the first election, turnout was nearly 80 percent among the 19 million registered voters. Kenyatta secured victory with 54 percent of the vote, while Odinga came second with 45 percent. Odinga, 72, is a veteran opposition leader who followed in the footsteps of his father and inherited a dynastic rivalry with Kenyatta whose father was the country's first post-independence president. In areas loyal to Kenyatta, turnout was steady but still appeared to be far lower than during the first round. But in Odinga's main strongholds, polling officials were left twiddling their thumbs. The decision to cancel the August poll was initially hailed as a service to democracy in a country plagued by disputed elections. But the re-run has been dogged by chaos and acrimony, prompting western diplomats to blast Odinga and Kenyatta for fuelling division. Mrs Theodosia W. Jackson, Principal of Jackson College of Education has commended the government for absorbing graduates of the College as teachers in our basic schools. The GES has posted 1,700 graduates of the 2016 batch of the Jackson College of Education this academic year. Mrs. Jackson described the Akufo-Addo government as a government with integrity for its commitment in the promotion of education. An elated Mrs. Jackson said the focus of the College is to produce teachers for especially, the rural communities. According to her, the promotion and development of education is about quality human resource base of the country and not necessarily adequate infrastructure. She assured that the college would continue to train more quality teachers with the intention of producing enough teachers to serve the educational needs of our rural folks. Mrs. Theodosia W. Jackson said the College would continue to focus on the training of professional teachers in Ghana to curb the perennial lack of trained teachers in the Ghanaian basic schools, especially, at the hinterlands, by providing the needed opportunities to prospective teachers to access professional training. The Principal therefore called on the previous batches of the College to exercise maximum restraint since efforts are being made to better their plight. 26.10.2017 LISTEN The Chief of Fiapre, Obrempong Professor Kyem-Amponsah II, has pledged establish an educational endowment Fund to take care of brilliant, but needy students in the area. He explained that a scholarship Scheme would cater for needy children from the basic to the University. The new Fiapre Chief said education will be his major priority and has started a free vacation classes in the town and it will be extended to the Junior High Schools in the area. Obrempong Kyem Amponsah was speaking to the media shortly after his installation at Fiapre near Sunyani. The 50 year old Professor in Food Nutrition known in private life as Emmanuel Ohene Afoakwa, said students who perform well during the vacation classes will be awarded and sponsored. Every year the Fiapre Traditional Council under my leadership will award scholarships to five brilliant but needy students who perform very well during the vacation classes, he said. Obrempong Professor Kyem-Amponsah noted that he will put in place prudent mechanisms to revamp the agriculture in the area, because a lot of the people are peasant farmers. The new chief added that there will be a system for the traditional council to employ the service of agric extension officers to educate farmers on new farming techniques. He was optimistic that agriculture if properly promoted will help reduce poverty in the area, adding that mechanized boreholes would be provided for farmers to do farming all year round. Nana Obrempong Kyem-Amponsah assured his sub-chiefs that, a new palace will be built and as well as new modern mausoleum constructed where departed chiefs of the area will be buried. Three UN peacekeepers in northern Mali were killed Thursday and another two injured when their vehicle struck a "mine or an improvised explosive device," the United Nations Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) said. The blast occurred at around 1430 GMT when the vehicle was escorting "a logistical convoy" north of Kidal, on a highway between Tessalit and Aguelhok, it said in a statement, adding that the toll was still provisional. "Following the explosion, three peacekeepers lost their lives and two others were injured, according to a provisional toll," MINUSMA said, adding the survivors were being taken to Kidal. Interim UN mission head Koen Davidse said he vigorously condemned "such despicable acts whose sole aim is to destabilise the country and jeopardise the ongoing peace process in Mali." He said MINUSMA remained determined to work to bring peace to the country and warned that attacks on peacekeepers could be construed as war crimes. The attack followed a visit on Sunday by 15 ambassadors from the UN Security Council to pledge support for efforts to bring peace to Mali. The show of support came after an appeal by Sahel region states Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger for help in their battle against jihadist violence. The five countries have asked for funding and logistical support to enable the launch of a joint first operation from the end of this month against the jihadists. UN chief Antonio Guterres said he would meet President Paul Biya of Cameroon late Friday to discuss the troubles in the country's anglophone regions. "We are going to be able to assess the recent evolution of (the situation of) the anglophone community," Guterres told AFP on Thursday in Bangui, capital of Central African Republic (CAR). Guterres is to leave CAR at 1615 GMT on Friday after a four-day visit to the country. He will make a four-hour stopover in Yaounde where he is to take a commercial flight to Paris. He will use this time to talk with Biya. "It's a meeting that I deeply appreciate," Guterres said, adding that it reflected Cameroon's "great interest" in working "positively" in the region. 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. International monitors say there has been a toll of more than 20 or at least 40 dead -- figures that are angrily disputed by Biya's government. Guterres said he would also talk with Biya about the influx of displaced people from CAR into Cameroon and his concerns about the crisis in the Lake Chad region triggered by attacks by Boko Haram jihadists. His trip to Bangui comes in the context of a looming decision by the UN Security Council on whether to renew the mandate, which expires next month, of its 12,500-troop peacekeeping force, MINUSCA, in the conflict-ravaged CAR. He is lobbying for the mandate to be renewed and for an additional 900 troops. At least four people were killed Thursday in clashes over Kenya's election re-run, prompting officials to delay the vote in four counties and further tarnishing the credibility of a deeply divisive poll. As counting began after a day marked by bloodshed and poor voter turnout, President Uhuru Kenyatta was heading for a landslide victory after his rival Raila Odinga pulled out. But estimated figures compiled by the election board pointed to a turnout of just 48 percent. If confirmed, it would be a huge fall from the nearly 80 percent rate in the August poll, which was won by Kenyatta but overturned by the Supreme Court in an unprecedented ruling that sparked weeks of protest and acrimonious debate. As the troubled election played out, three people were killed as protests raged in opposition strongholds in the west of the country, while a fourth died in a Nairobi slum where clashes erupted between demonstrators and police. The confirmed casualties raised the number of people killed in election-related violence since the August poll to 44. In a televised address after the polls closed at 1400 GMT, election chief Wafula Chebukati said eight out of 10 of the country's polling stations had opened. There was no sign of the thick snaking queues of voters that characterised the August election in Kenya, whose results were annulled last month "We have 40,883 poll stations... out of that number, 35,564 polling stations opened or sent an opening message, meaning voting took place and this is representing 87 percent of polling stations," he said, noting there were 5,319 that did not open or were unable to send an opening message. Earlier, Chebukati said that due to "security-related challenges", the ballot would be postponed until Saturday in four protest-hit counties in the west: Kisumu, Homa Bay, Migori and Siaya. But Kisumu's governor Anyang Nyongo rejected the move, saying people would not vote while they were "mourning". A vote for Jesus A member of the Maasai tribe casts her ballot at Kajiado Primary School in a town 80km (50 miles) south of Nairobi as Kenya votes in a presidential re-run which is being boycotted by the opposition While Odinga's supporters hit the streets, others went to the polls to cast their ballots. But, in stark contrast to the August election, several polling stations in key areas stood empty or welcomed only a handful of voters in an election likely to face more legal battles after its conclusion. At one polling station in Nairobi's Kibera slum, rocks bounced off the roof as officials tallied just 16 votes -- all for Kenyatta. In the middle-class neighbourhood of Kilimani, turnout at St Georges school was only 42 percent, with Kenyatta scoring the large majority -- although one person wrote in the name of Jesus, and voted for him. As voting headed to a close, police and hospital sources confirmed four people had been shot dead and around 50 others wounded, most by live bullets, according to an AFP tally of figures from officials and medics. At the Jaramogi hospital in Kisumu, an AFP correspondent saw several people arriving covered in blood. In Nairobi's Kibera slum, opposition protesters, some armed with machetes, clashed with police as they sought to block Kenya's divisive election re-run "This is crazy, they are shooting at us -- we are demonstrating and they shoot us!" said Samuel Okot, 20, who was sitting with his friend Joseph Ouma who had been shot in the knee and was howling in pain. "What kind of country is this?" Threat of more bloodshed The violence drew a sharp response from rights watchdog Amnesty International. "With tensions running high there is a very real threat of further bloodshed as the election re-run takes place," said Justus Nyangaya, director at Amnesty International Kenya. "We are calling on the police to only use force as a last resort -- unlawful police killings and other human rights violations must not be allowed to recur." Map of Kenya locating places where clashes broke out between police and supporters of opposition leader Raila Odinga. Kenyans began voting Thursday in a repeat election that has polarised the nation. In Kisumu, 19-year-old George Odhiambo died from blood loss after being shot in the thigh during clashes which erupted after protesters barricaded roads and polling stations to block the vote, police and hospital sources said. A second person died from a gunshot wound to the leg in Kinsumu, police said, after a polling centre was "stormed" by a mob. Police said another man was shot dead in Homa Bay, also in the west, "where a large mob attacked a small police facility" prompting officers to open fire "to protect themselves", a statement said. A fourth man died after being shot in the head in Nairobi's Mathare slum, another hotspot in the capital where police fired water cannon and teargas to disperse demonstrators. In the eastern port city of Mombasa, police said a man was stabbed as he was going out to vote, while in Kisumu a police officer was also wounded with a knife. Also in Mombasa, police said protesters in the city's Bangladesh slum had smeared faeces on the walls of a primary school that was to be used as a polling station. Pyrrhic victory for Kenyatta? "We don't want the ballot boxes and papers to reach polling stations," one demonstrator said in Kenya's western city of Kisumu, where opposition supporters have vowed to block the presidential re-run Analysts say the boycott in east Africa's richest economy and one of its strongest democracies is likely to tarnish the credibility of Kenyatta's victory and deepen its worst political crisis since a 2007 election sparked politically-driven ethnic violence that left 1,100 dead. "Today, no fair election can take place. The government wants to force us to vote, but we did not want to do it and we will not do it," said Austin Olang, a 26-year-old maths teacher in Kisumu. In the first election, turnout was nearly 80 percent among the 19 million registered voters. Kenyatta secured victory with 54 percent of the vote, while Odinga came second with 45 percent. Odinga, 72, is a veteran opposition leader who followed in the footsteps of his father and inherited a dynastic rivalry with Kenyatta, whose father was the country's first post-independence president. In areas loyal to Kenyatta, turnout was steady but still appeared to be far lower than during the first round. But in Odinga's main strongholds, polling officials were left twiddling their thumbs. The decision to cancel the August poll was initially hailed as a service to democracy in a country plagued by disputed elections. But the re-run has been dogged by chaos and acrimony, prompting western diplomats to blast Odinga and Kenyatta for fuelling division. The Roads and Highways Minister, Hon. Kwasi Amoako Atta has bemoaned that the country has lagged behind in terms of roads infrastructure compared to other developing countries. He said after sixty years of independence, the country cannot boast of any quality road network, something he said, need immediate attention. Hon. Amoako Atta said this at Kwaman palace in the Sekyere Central district of the Ashanti region on the last day of his three days tour to the region to inspect the nature of the roads We have inspected many roads during my tour in the region and what we have seen so far give me a picture that when it comes to road infrastructure the country has lagged behind, most of the roads are in the deplorable state he bemoaned. He said Ghana has a long way to go in fixing our roads and we need to run as fast as we can in order to close the gap of road infrastructure in the country. According to him, only 23 percent of Ghana roads are bituminous whilst 77 percent have not ever seen bitumen before. When you take roads into a percentage, only 23 percent is bituminous and the remaining 77 percent of our total roads network have never seen bitumen before but we are 60years now, it is very serious, he stressed. However, the Roads and Highways Minister said he is optimistic that Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo Addo government will not disappoint and betray the trust people had in him by voting them into power, and will avert the road challenges. we have a long way to go but we thank the people of this country for voting for a hard working person, for voting for someone who is good hearted, for voting for someone who is not selfish and has decided to govern the country with truth and fair, that is Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo His Excellency, to add value to what Former President John Agyekum Kuffour started, he boasted. On his part, the Kwamanhene Barima Ababio Ntori Nimpa II eulogized the NPP government stressing that he has confidence in the promises made by the roads minister and his government. He assured the minister of their continue support to the government to fulfill their promises. The road sector minister was accompanied by Hon. Owusu Aduomi, one of his deputies, engineers from Ghana High Authority (GHA), Urban Roads, the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah, Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) Chief Executive, Osei Assibey Antwi and some Member of Parliaments from the region. The Majority Leader and a Member of Parliament for Suame Constuency Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, had earlier on led the team to inspect the road networks in his constituency at Anomangye and Bremang. The Chief of Naval Staff Rear Admiral Peter Kofi Faidoo has assured Ghanaians of the readiness of the Ghana naval command to protect the country when called upon. Rear admiral Kofi Faidoo gave the assurance on the sidelines of a fleet review exercise at Sekondi to ascertain the operational readiness of the Ghana navy. According to him, the Ghana Army have a very proud history as armed forces because generally Ghana is one of the best peace keeping army in the world, however the army is not only good at peace keeping but good at war fighting too. He added that the exercise has given him assurance that the Ghana naval command shall be up to the task when called upon. The fleet review exercise,the first in almost twenty years was to see how the naval ships operate at sea and their operational readiness. Eight war ships were on sea to participate in the exercise which included a simulation exercise on how to rescue a merchant ship from pirates by the special forces of the Ghana Navy,firing exercises and manoeuvering tactics. The naval ships that participated in the exercise with experienced Captains and Officers were GNS Yaa Asantewa, GNS Chemele ,GNS Garinga and GNS Naa Gbewaa,GNS Blika,GNS Anzone, GNS Ehwor and GNS Stephen Otu. The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has learnt with shock and horror the reported news of the alleged defilement of a four-year-old girl by a member of the Adadientem community near Assin Fosu in the Central Region of Ghana. The Center is equally appalled that the suspect in this heinous crime is still walking free with no serious action taken by official state agencies against the suspect several days after the reported defilement. The Center notes that Ghana has well established laws that protect the rights of children, including the Childrens Act of 1998 (Act 560), which provides for the rights of the child and ensures total protection of the child from harm and abuses. Ghana also has the Criminal Offences Act of 1960 (Act 29), section 101 of which states that Whoever naturally or unnaturally carnally knows any child under sixteen years of age, whether with or without his or her consent commits an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term of not less than seven years and not more than twenty-five years. In addition, in November 2014, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MGCSP) came out with a Government of Ghana Child and Family Welfare Policy which seeks to strengthen protection for Ghanaian children. Indeed, Ghana was the first country in the world to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child on February 5, 1990, and has signed on most major international instruments relating to child protection including the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. Against this background, CDD-Ghana can neither understand why a Ghanaian child should be subjected to such egregious abuse in this day and age, nor the inaction of the authorities charged with the protection of children. CDD-Ghana finds the reported excuse given by the Police in Assin Fosu for not taking the needful steps to arrest the suspect, and the general lackadaisical attitude of the Police Service, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, and the Department of Social Welfare in the Assin North Municipality to this case of gross child abuse an affront to the countrys criminal justice system. The Center is also disturbed by news reports that the chief of the community is claiming that the suspect has been declared innocent by the gods; hence nothing can be done to him. The Center calls on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the Ghana Police Service to expedite whatever actions and processes are underway to bring the suspect to book to face justice. The Center also calls on the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, as a matter of urgency, to reach out to the family of the victim to provide the necessary support under the difficult circumstancesin which they find themselves in accordance with the provisions of the Domestic Violence Act. Further, CDD-Ghana urges the district offices of the Department of Social Development and the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) to embark on intensive education of the opinion leaders, traditional authorities in the Adadientem community on issues of child protection and sexual abuses and the laws of Ghana. Such efforts should also be extended to other parts of the country. CDD-Ghana commends the media, particularly Joy FM, for bringing this horrible act against an innocent child to the attention of the public, and calls on all well-meaning Ghanaians to condemn such deeds, and support the work of the Police Service by providing them with any relevant information on the incident. European Union foreign ministers in October backed the Iran nuclear agreement, saying the accord is working and is a key part of non-proliferation efforts despite U.S. President Donald Trump withdrawing his support for it. EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, whose team has been a key player in drawing up the deal to curtail Irans nuclear ambitions, suggested that domestic U.S. politics was at play in Trumps decision. U.S. President Donald Trump's undermining of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) to limit Iran's nuclear program is yet another part of his unilateralist tendencies to pull out of international deals. In order to appease his political base, Mr. Trump has already withdrawn from key multilateral agreements like the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Paris Accord, and is threatening to pull out of the North American free-trade agreement and UNESCO. But these short-sighted actions are both misguided and futile. Like the international agreements Mr. Trump has undermined in the past, the JCPOA will go on without the United States and it is U.S. global influence and its economy that will suffer. Certification of the Iran deal is a U.S. domestic legal matter and not an international one. The U.S. Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act (INARA) mandates that the President certify to Congress that Iran is in compliance of the JCPOA every 90 days. This was originally put in place by a Republican Congress in 2015 to force the hand of then-president Barack Obama to continuously present his judgment on both Iranian compliance with the international deal and whether the deal still met the national interest of the United States. Mr. Trump's arguments against JCPOA date back to his nomination campaign. He has griped about the 10-year sunset clause; but short-term containment is better than no containment at all. The JCPOA says nothing to prevent the expansion of Iranian influence in the Middle East and its destructive regional behaviour, particularly in Syria and Iraq, which is of great worry to its neighbours. Iran's ballistic missiles testing program is also a valid concern, but these are wholly out of the parameters of the JCPOA. Simply put, the JCPOA is achieving its stated goals of reducing Iranian nuclear capability and the International Atomic Energy Agency has affirmed Iran's technical compliance eight times. The ministers, meeting in Luxembourg, also underlined their hope that the U.S. Congress, which has around two months to decide what action to take, will come to the rescue and safeguard the 104-page agreement, which is part of a U.N. Resolution and has been backed by the U.N. Security Council. We hope Congress will not call this agreement into question, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told reporters. His Dutch counterpart Bert Koenders said the agreement concerns the safety of the world. I hope also that the U.S. Congress will realize this and take the right decisions. Belgiums foreign minister, Didier Reynders, said that walking away could compromise any chances of encouraging North Korea to negotiate on its nuclear program. We must be able to demonstrate that when a nuclear agreement has been concluded that we respect it, Reynders said. By not certifying the Iran agreement, Trump is volleying this to Congress. If Congress decides that Iran is in breach of JCPOA, it has 60 days to re-impose specific bilateral U.S. sanctions put in place under the deal or it can choose to amend the INARA and remove the certification process all together. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson noted that he will advise Congress to not "snap-back sanctions" as it would make the United States in technical breach of an international agreement. Do not expect a divided Congress to come to an agreement and Mr. Trump will blame this legislative failure, like the others of his presidency, on Congress. Hence, regardless of Congressional actions, the Iran nuclear deal will persevere. Predictably, original signatories of the deal have reiterated their continued support for JCPOA, not least because reneging on the deal would undermine international negotiations with North Korea to limit its nuclear program. The Europeans, China, India, Russia and others are already signing business deals with Iran and, despite Mr. Trump's bluster and theatrics, consolidated global support for the JCPOA will continue. As in other international agreements that Mr. Trump has reneged on, the world carries on expanding trade, reducing growth of greenhouse emissions, and preserving its heritage sites. Other countries simply fill the gaps and it is the United States that loses out. Consider one aspect of the JCPOA which allowed aircraft manufacturers to re-engage with Iran. Boeing signed a $17-billion (U.S.) deal with Iran to help modernize its fleet of aging commercial aircraft after years of sanctions. According to Boeing, the deal supports 100,000 U.S. jobs in the ailing manufacturing sector that may now be at jeopardy should sanctions be re-imposed. France's Airbus would be the likely beneficiary if the Boeing deal is scuffled. In order to secure a short term political win, Mr. Trump is recklessly putting American businesses and the United States economy at risk. The President's populist messaging may try to appeal to a golden age of American hegemony to satisfy his base of supporters. However, the United States' power is far from omnipotent. Mr. Trump's unilateralism operates in a world of increased multilateralism; a reality he fails to grasp. It took international co-operation to put the JCPOA together and it will not unravel because of American unilateralism. Mr. Trump may score a symbolic win with his populist base for being tough on Iran, but he is setting up Congress to fail and the American people to lose. Many years ago, a professor from Sick Children Hospital in Toronto asked health workers during orientation: who is going to feed them after saving all these children in African countries? It sounded callous then but after reflection for years, reality of that statement sunk in. It was a challenge not born out of indifference but genuine concern. By year 2050, annual population increases would be 42 million; from 1.2b now doubling to 2.4 billion, according to the UN. The alarm among world population experts is the pending Africa population explosion. By 2100, Africa would be 82% of total growth ; who is going to feed us? Ironically, Africa has 60% of world arable land. Yet famine exists due mainly to manmade calamities, not natural disaster. Low GDP failed policies, mis-education, low storage of food and vegetables demonstrate lack of planning . Blame ethnic conflicts, terrorists activities and intolerance on one another for overcrowding? China solution of one child per family was harsh but we can empower ladies over their wombs to curb population: by small business and education. One of the hardest lessons we can teach children is to work twice as hard as others in order to get ahead with too many kids to feed. The notion that fingers are not equal belong to our days not their own days. Yet egalitarian societies teach us that everyone has equal opportunity as long as they work hard and play by the rules. Education and small business empowerment allow women to have some say in the amount of children they want. They would think twice on how to manage the house, family, job and how they would feed and provide better quality of life for their children instead of waiting for God to provide. Most men also appreciate women that help their standard of living and provide both economic and emotional support balanced with opportunity cost of childcare and nursery. The rate of economic growth in Africa is not enough to achieve poverty reduction. There are simply no control or constraints on population to deter explosive growth from our Continent in general and Nigeria in particular that will add more people to the world's population by 2050 than any other country. This is not sustainable even with mineral production in South Africa, Congo, Niger and Nigeria. South Africa growth from 0.6 percent in 2017 to 1.1 percent in 2018. Nigeria went from recession to a 1.2 percent growth rate in 2017, going to 2.4 percent in 2018. Indeed, African countries that depend mainly on agriculture have rosier GDP based on less corruption and better planning. Growth in non-resource- intensive countries is anticipated to remain solid, supported by infrastructure investment, resilient services sectors, and recovery of agricultural production. Ethiopia is forecasted to expand by 8.3% in 2017, Tanzania by 7.2 %, Cote dIvoire by 6.8%, and Senegal by 6.7%. We have heard stories about those who toiled and made it while others slept. There are also those that pulled themselves up by their bootstraps. Unfortunately, those days of hard work to get rich seem to be rare with unsustainable population. People work smart these days; cheat, loot, swindle or beat the system. It is even more so when young people believe that some are more privileged than others. While the rich tell everyone to work hard, their kids are favored. So why do some folks say we will always have the poor among us? Others said the poor work so hard, they hardly have enough time to think about how to make money. Working the hardest jobs, sometimes two or three at the same time. Since there are only 24 hours in a day, many work two or three part-time jobs. They are always on their way to or from one job or another. Husbands and wives switched children at the bus stops before getting home or to work. There are poor folks working from dawn to dusk. You see them when driving to work and on your way back home, to the recreation spots and back home at night. Many times, we wonder when they get to sleep. Well, it must be stated that poor people are not the only ones working long hours. Some students go to school full time and also work full time. Others do one part-time and the other full time. But only for a limited period, not most of their lives like the poor. The bigger fear of man is the threat or relief from hunger as in stomach infrastructure, followed by emotional appeal to ethnicity in Africa. We have some poor people living big, imitating the wealthy but ignorant of the way nouvelle riche make their money or their connection leading to their wealth. They soon run into trouble when they cannot keep up with the joneses. Since they want to be like them, they support whatever the rich do blindly. More wives more children! Make no mistake about the fact that politicians similarly swindle poor people in developing and developed countries whether they vote or not. Indeed, poor people in both worlds are very religious, so they do not believe in population control. They think climate change is a hoax or the makings of the gods. But in each case, it is the poor that suffer the consequences. Desert encroachment in Tropical countries, hurricanes devastating vulnerable poor in rich countries. Overpopulation and crowding in African countries has increased poverty and flight from the Continent. While it is true that population in the developed countries in Europe and Americas are aging with less young people to support them, that has not changed China and Japan policies on restriction of immigrants. Africans in any country are badly treated since they have failed to build a successful nation of their own or control hedonic tendencies for corruption. If anything, there would be more strenuous immigration policies in the developed countries even when it is obvious that they need more young immigrants to serve their aging population. It would be a double edge sword since they would pick the best brains and skills in Africa, only to be underemployed or sent to inhospitable areas and given undesirable jobs nobody wants. The statistics that 85% of trained physicians in Nigeria left for greener pastures while remaining 15% are still looking for their way out of the Country chills the blood. There is too many mouths to feed in Nigeria. On the other hand, all the Community Health officers remain in their posted areas in the rural parts of Nigeria. There is definitely something wrong with our planning and priorities. No country can afford such brain drain. We can imagine other professionals leaving. Overpopulation has many consequences beyond redemption. Some barricades were made of boulders, others were thrown together with concrete blocks, burning tyres or electrical cables, creating gridlock in Kisumu, Kenya's third city, where furious protesters sought to block Thursday's presidential re-run. "We do not want the ballot boxes and ballot papers to go to the polling stations," said George Musundu, 24, who was manning one of the barricades not far from the airport. "Give us some money and we'll let you pass," growled another at a barricade in the east of the city, a beret perched on his head. With tempers at boiling point in this fractious western city, a bastion of support for opposition leader Raila Odinga who boycotted Thursday's vote, police and demonstrators faced off in a dangerous game of cat and mouse. As protesters torched barricades and hurled stones, police responded with tear gas, water cannon and real bullets in an increasingly-tense standoff which left two people dead and more than 30 people wounded, most of them by live bullets, the city's governor said. It was only when the heavens opened that tempers finally began to cool before the onset of nightfall. It was a day that had started relatively calmly for this city with a population of around 500,000 that lies on the northern banks of Lake Victoria. 'This is crazy!' When the polls opened at 6:00 am, all of the 196 polling stations in the Kisumu-Centre constituency were deserted, with local officials too afraid to deliver of voting slips, ballot boxes and electronic kits to the relevant centres for fear of being attacked after a week in which some of their number had been assaulted. On the eve of the ballot, Odinga had urged his followers to stay at home, certain that the IEBC election board would not be able to pull off a second vote which was hastily organised in just under two months after the Supreme Court overturned the results of August's initial poll. Overnight Wednesday, the front gate of a primary school which had been slated for use as a polling station in eastern Kisumu was welded shut on the inside with three iron bars, an AFP correspondent said. "Just to be sure," explained a passer by, a smile on his face. In Kondele slum however, which has seen many violent demonstrations in recent weeks, the situation was surprisingly calm, with police fired off the odd bout of tear gas at small groups of demonstrators. But the morning calm in Kisumu quickly deteriorated and by the afternoon, ambulances could be seen screeching up to the emergency department at the city's Jaramogi hospital, their tyres screaming as they pulled up to unload the wounded. Medics said they had treated at least 11 people who had been injured by bullets, with a teenager later dying of massive blood loss after being hit in the upper thigh. But it was a toll that would mount. "This is crazy! We are demonstrating and they shoot us, what kind of country is this?" asked Samuel Okot, 20, who arrived at the hospital with his friend Joseph Ouma who had been shot in the knee and was howling in pain. 'In mourning' Others were in worse shape. Felix Omondi, 19, was barely conscious when he was brought in on a stretcher with thick bandages around his neck. And Benson Odhiambo, 20, arrived with his ear torn off, with doctors fearful a bullet was lodged in his skull. And then there was Duncan Baraza who was nursing a broken arm and said he had been badly beaten up by police who forced their way into his home, even though he claimed not to have taken part in any demonstrations. Four others with lesser injuries told a similar story. Speaking to journalists at the hospital, Kisumu governor Anyang Nyongo, who is close to Odinga, didn't mince his words. "Our people must be protected from police brutality," he said, denouncing them as more of a "militia" than a police force. "People have the right to resist an oppressive regime... and when they resist, they should not kill us," he thundered before declaring a week of mourning. And he also rejected plans by the election committee to postpone until Saturday the ballot in Kisumu and three other protest-hit counties in the west. "We are not going to vote when we are in mourning." As Odinga said on the eve of the vote, his opposition movement was changing -- and now it would all be about "resistance". I dont just hate the Australian Labor party. I dont just hate the Australian Liberal party. I dont just hate the Greens, just that One Nation mob, or just all those kooky independents. I dont discriminate. I hate them all. Okay perhaps hate is a strong word. Maybe extreme disdain is more appropriate. Either way, I simply think that all politicians are rubbish. Im yet to find one that isnt in someway compromised. And none of them that ever make it into power do so without owing favours to those who really pull the strings. You could ramble off a big old list of things the government has stuffed up: Same-sex marriage Energy The NBN Multiple citizenship of Federal MPs Double taxation on bitcoin and cryptocurrency Thats just a taster. These by the way are just things that the government has stuffed up in the last year and a bit. You could go further back and add hundreds more examples to that list. Quite simply Im at a loss to think of much theyve done right in the lastummwell my lifetime I guess. While most of the time theyre as useless as an ashtray on a motorbike, occasionallyvery occasionally they do something not half bad. In fact, they might have just done something incredibly progressive The Cypherpunks When you think of progressive you cant look past the current crypto boom. It is technological progress on a level the world wasnt prepared for. But this didnt spring up overnight. Nothing truly revolutionary just appears out of nowhere. And with crypto its actually been decades in the making. Its just that most people didnt know it was happening. The world of cryptocurrencies, digital currency, digital tokens, or whatever you want to call them, isnt a new idea. While bitcoin is the first to gather any serious momentum, its not really the first. In fact you can trace digital currency back into the 90s. In 2012, IEEE Spectrum published a piece titled, Bitcoin: The Cryptoanarchists Answer to Cash Its an excellent description of how bitcoin came to exist and the foundations and legacy of those attempts before it. It explains, The pursuit of an independent digital currency really got started in 1992, when Timothy May, a retired Intel physicist, invited a group of friends over to his house outside Santa Cruz, Calif., to discuss privacy and the nascent Internet. It continues, By the end of the meeting, the group had given themselves a name cypherpunks and the superhero-like task of defending privacy across the digital world. The cypherpunk community were like financial anarchists. But even then the term anarchist isnt really fair. They were simply trying to prevent centralised authority from pressing undue influence over people. And these cypherpunks started using their skills to try and create ways for people to operate outside of the traditional system. For example in 1998 Wei Dai published information around a digital currency he called b-money. The intention was, to enable online economies that are purely voluntary, and create these economies so they, couldnt be taxed or regulated through the threat of force. Around this time Nick Szabo came up with the idea of bit gold. As he explained in a blog post from 2008, Thus, it would be very nice if there were a protocol whereby unforgeably costly bits could be created online with minimal dependence on trusted third parties, and then securely stored, transferred, and assayed with similar minimal trust. Bit gold. My proposal for bit gold is based on computing a string of bits from a string of challenge bits, using functions called variously client puzzle function, proof of work function, or secure benchmark function. The resulting string of bits is the proof of work. Where a one-way function is prohibitively difficult to compute backwards, a secure benchmark function ideally comes with a specific cost, measured in compute cycles, to compute backwards. You will note a lot of terminology these is similar to the functions of what we know as bitcoin today. Now thats not to say Nick Szabo is bitcoins mysterious creator Satoshi Nakamoto. But its almost certain some of bitcoins inspiration came from the likes of Szabo, Dai and other cypherpunks from the 90s. These are the origins of cryptocurrency as we know it today. Now, we dont expect the government to have been all over this as far back as the 90s. But theyve had a fair bit of time to get their head around it all. Progressive? Really? Remember bitcoin started its genesis block on January 3, 2009. Its now been around for eight years, almost nine. Again, government wouldnt have been that familiar with it in 2009, not that many people were. But by the time 2013 rolled around bitcoin was taking off. It pushed past US$1,000 in price that year. And it was on the front page of mainstream news like Forbes. That was now four years ago. But were the government taking it seriously then either? No they werent. It was until 2014 the government started thinking about it. Then they decided to try and apply law to it. And they made a huge error. They decided crypto was akin to a barter arrangement. As such Australian businesses must pay goods-and-services tax (GST) if they sell digital currencies, and can be liable for the tax should they receive them as payment. This double tax was a deathblow to the burgeoning crypto industry in Australia. And it forced a lot of bitcoin and crypto-related businesses offshore to more friendly regionslike Singapore. For the last three years there has been no change. Until now. The government finally realises this may be an opportunity for the country. Just this year theyve lifted the double taxation issue. And theyve provided reasonable tax guidance on the use of cryptocurrencies. But most importantly theyve decided to amend legislation. These new changes make Australia a test bed for fintech businesses. This includes crypto projects. The changes provide up to a two-year exemption from licensing requirements. That means small, start-up companies can test their tech without having to deal with costly regulation and licencing. This could open up Australia to be the worlds hub for fintech companies. We could see a flood of new fintech and crypto businesses landing on Aussie shores. Its an incredibly progressive approach to new tech. And even more mind blowing is that it seems Australia is genuinely becoming highly receptive to the potential of crypto. We think Australia could become a mecca for crypto in the near future. And if thats how it plays out there could be huge opportunity to profit. Aussie-based cryptocurrency projects could be the next huge wave of crypto opportunity. And it might just be thanks to a more relaxed approach from the government Regards, Sam Volkering, Editor, Secret Crypto Network Like some other African countries, Nigeria underwent colonization by the British. In 1914, Lord Fredrick Lugard signed a document consolidating the Protectorate of Southern Nigeria and the Northern Nigeria Protectorate, effectively creating the Protectorate of Nigeria. 46 years later, the country attained independence from British rule. During this colonial era, the country underwent numerous changes, some of which have lasted to date. Colonialism in Nigeria had both positive and negative impacts. Photo: canva.com (modified by author) Source: UGC The impacts of colonialism in Nigeria Here is a look at the positive and negative effects of the British colonial rule in Nigeria. Positive effects of British rule in Nigeria While widely viewed in a negative light, colonialism did have some positive impacts. Here are some of the advantages that Nigeria accrued from the period of British rule. Introduction of a modern idea of government Before the colonial era, Nigeria was largely governed through a somewhat unstructured system of kingdoms and empires. However, with colonialism came a structured form of government. Like in other countries, the governance system Nigeria adopted was based on what the Britons used at the time. For example, the post-colonial systems of governance in the country saw a clear separation of powers between different arms of government, a fact that played a significant role in conflict avoidance. Additionally, the idea of the country's written constitution arose from colonization. As with other countries before colonization, Nigeria's system of governance relied on unwritten laws that posed a lot of problems. Improved health care A doctor's stethoscope. Photo: pixabay.com, @Darkostojanovic Source: UGC Before the entry of the British into Nigeria, the country experienced significantly high infant mortality rates. These were attributable to underdeveloped healthcare systems. At the time, some of the ailments could not be identified, making it tricky to come up with a remedy. When the British came, the situation improved through improved literacy and knowledge. Infant mortality was reduced since citizens could tell the causes of certain diseases as well as their cures. It is worth noting that healthcare improvement, as other advantages of colonialism, happened through imperialism. Introduction of money currencies In pre-colonial Nigeria, the prevalent form of business was barter trade. This involved the exchange of goods with other goods, a system ridden with numerous challenges. The colonialists then introduced money currencies, making it easier to trade and do business. In 1912, the British introduced the first silver coins in the country. Around the same time, the West African Currency Board was created. Besides the money currency, the British also introduced the banking system in Nigeria, further simplifying trade in the country. Infrastructural development Like many other African countries, the colonial masters introduced numerous infrastructural developments in Nigeria. These include electricity networks, rail lines, seaports, bridges, and roads. While most of the original colonial-era projects no longer exist, they formed the basis upon which the country's modern-day projects are based on. People in pre-colonial Nigeria relied on traditional modes of transport such as walking on foot and the use of animals. The infrastructural changes significantly impacted the citizens' lives, making it easier and faster to move from one point to another. Improved literacy A person writing. Photo: pixabay.com, @Free-Photos Source: UGC Literacy is inarguably one of the most significant benefits of colonial rule in African countries, Nigeria included. When the colonialists came to the country, they taught the natives how to speak, read, and write in English. With the improved literacy levels, the natives pursued the numerous opportunities that involved communicating with other English speakers. The literacy benefits continue to be felt in modern-day Nigeria. It is no surprise that the country's education system is still largely based on what was introduced during the colonial era. The creation of a huge political unit The creation of a large and unified system of government helped the country develop faster. Before the imperialists came, the country was governed through divided systems consisting of kingdoms, empires, and other small groups. The country has administrations such as the Igbo system, the Yoruba system, and the Hausa/Fulani system. These administration systems were significantly different from each other even though the regions they represented were quite close geographically. When the systems were merged during colonization, it resulted in faster development since decisions could now be made easily. Negative effects of British colonialism in Nigeria Despite the numerous positive impacts of colonization of Nigeria, there were also several negative effects. Here are the main ones. Constant war and conflict Soldiers at war. Photo: pixabay.com, @Defence-Imagery Source: UGC Before the entry of the British into the country, the citizens enjoyed what can be described as a prevailing sense of harmony. However, when the country was overrun in the name of imperialism, it marked the beginning of conflict and war. These conflicts were largely fueled by the colonizers in a well-thought divide and rule strategy. The colonial rule, therefore, disrupted the country's peace for quite some time. Economic dependence and resource exploitation While colonialism brought infrastructural and technological development to Nigeria, it was also a form of extreme exploitation. The basic idea behind colonization had aspects of economic dependency baked right into it. The British took the country's resources, land and mineral included, leaving the natives dependent on them to generate funds. Additionally, the imperialists ensured that the natives did not get positions in the running of metropolitan industries, leaving them dependent on the colonial masters. Loss of culture and identity When the colonialists took over the country's rule during the colonial era, the natives suffered a massive culture and identity loss. The British brought and imposed their culture, language, behaviour, beliefs, and other ways of life on the Nigerians. This then led to the natives abandoning some of their customs and culture in favour of those brought by the colonizers. For most natives, though, the conformity to the new way of life was more out of fear of the colonialists than a belief in their ways of life. Eventually, after the 46 years of Nigerian colonization, the natives lost significant parts of their culture and identity, which were never fully regained even after the country attained independence from colonial rule. This is one of the main subjects in Chinua Achebe's highly acclaimed book, Things Fall Apart. The British viewed the local culture as inferior and disregarded everything the Africans believed in. This resulted in the imperialists changing everything they deemed unsuitable. The natives' sports, music, dressing code, education systems, naming, and religions were all replaced by those the British considered 'right.' Loss of land One of the biggest reasons for British colonialism in Nigeria was the abundant resources. The British needed the land to create massive plantations for their economic gain. When they got into the country, the colonialists forcefully grabbed land from the natives. This left most natives in colonial Nigeria with little or no land both at individual and community levels. With the loss of land, other problems such as hunger and poor living conditions followed. Slave trade and humiliation Cuffs used to restrain a person. Photo: pixabay.com, @jhusemannde Source: UGC With the introduction of colonialism into Nigeria, the twisted idea of the slave trade followed suit. At the time, the colonial masters needed slaves to work in their home countries or in the colonies. Additionally, imperialism reduced the status and prestige accorded to Nigerian leaders. The colonial masters controlled native leaders through fear and humiliation. Those who did not play to the master's tune would face dire consequences. Before Nigeria was officially declared a British colony, the British had carried out slave trade in the country for a while. The Portuguese paved the way for the slave trade in Nigeria back in the 15th century. The slave traders would use the captured Nigerians as currency for purchasing weapons and other different items, as well as using them as soldiers during the war. how did British colonization influence the Nigerian civil war? The Nigerian Civil War is also known as the Nigerian-Biafran war and took place between July 1967 and January 1970. The war was between the Republic of Nigeria and the Republic of Biafra, a secessionist nation that had declared independence from Nigeria. The British encouraged this secession, worsening the war even further. Additionally. The colonial policies in place at the time did not consider the complex cultures prevalent in the warring regions. The policies then forced warring groups to live in proximity, making the situation worse. What was the Nigerian government before colonization? From about the 12th century CE until Nigeria's colonial era, the country was largely a collection of states, kingdoms, and empires with trade and political systems. Some of the most noticeable administration systems at the time were the Hausa states of Gobir, Zaria, Kano, and Katsina and the Jukun states of Wukari, Pinduga, Kona, and Kwararafa. How has Nigerian clothing changed after the European colonization? Before the natives began trading with Europeans, the country's traditional costumes were largely made from materials at hand. These included hand-woven textiles, leather, feathers, seeds, and other items made from natural fibres. In modern-day Nigeria, the prevalent fashion is heavily borrowed from the colonial masters. Why was Nigeria colonized? Palm trees on a beach. Photo: pixabay.com, @MustangJoe Source: UGC The colonialists targeted Nigeria primarily due to its abundant natural resources. They wanted products such as palm oil, groundnuts, cocoa, cotton, and palm kernel, all of which were abundant in the West African nation. Additionally, the British also wanted to safeguard their trade interests in the region. Taking the country meant that the Brits effectively prevented any formal claims of the region by other colonial powers such as France and Germany. How was Nigeria colonised by the British? Nigeria was established as a British colony in 1884 at the renowned Berlin Conference, during which Africa was subdivided into territories to be taken by Europeans. The British then seized the country through the use of military force, strategic alliances and the collaboration of some of the natives. The rulers then put in place a system of governance known as an indirect rule to further strengthen their foothold on the land. Under this rule, governance was left to traditional chiefs who operated under the strict guidance of the colonial rulers. What was Nigeria called before? The country known as Nigeria today dates back to 1914 when Lord Fredrick Lugard grouped the constituent protectorates into one. Before then, the region was known as the Benin Empire between 1440 and 1897. The locals used to call it Bini. Other common names included the Kingdom of Benin, Kingdom of Oyo, and Kanem-Borno. The country's name is derived from the River Niger, one of the country's defining physical features. How long was Nigeria a colony? The Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria existed for 46 years between 1914 and 1960. The colony was created through the consolidation of the Colony and Protectorate of Southern Nigeria and the Northern Nigeria Protectorate. In 1960, the country attained independence from British rule. Like in other countries under imperialist rule, colonialism in Nigeria resulted in numerous positive and negative impacts. Critics of this rule argue that the negative impacts outweigh the positive ones, while supporters argue otherwise. READ ALSO: Top 10 richest people in Nigeria in 2021 and their net worth Legit.ng recently explored Nigeria's richest people. Forbes lists the world's richest people every year a list that keeps changing depending on people's wealth accumulation. In Nigeria, the list includes popular names such as Aliko Dangote and Mike Adenuga. Nigeria's wealthiest people are in different industries, including finance, manufacturing, and other services. Source: Legit.ng Technological advancements have led to millions of bank transactions in a day. An increased number of fraudulent transactions pushed the Central Bank of Nigeria to roll out the Bank Verification Number (BVN). All Nigerian bank account owners should have this number, and many are curious to know if online BVN registration is possible. A woman using a laptop and credit card for an online bank transaction. Photo: pexels.com, @Mikhail Nilov Source: UGC When BVN was first rolled out, many Nigerians found it daunting to get it because it was mandatory to visit the bank and fill out the form manually. Today, many want to know if online BVN registration is possible. Read on to find out the answer. Overview of BVN A Bank Verification Number is an 11-digit number that uniquely identifies each bank customer using a signature or fingerprint. It allows the bank to know each customer, thus preventing fraudulent transactions. Online BVN registration in 2022 If you have been wondering how to create BVN online, now is your chance to discover if this is possible in Nigeria in 2022. PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Instagram - get the most important news directly in your favourite app! How to open BVN online If you want to know how to get a BVN number without going to the bank, you are in the right place. The reality is that you cannot get this number online. Instead, you must book a physical appointment with your nearest bank branch or other approved BVN registration point. This process requires you to present yourself in person because your biometric data needs to be collected. How to register for BVN on the phone Many Nigerians want to know how to create BVN on the phone because almost everything can be done online in 2022. However, you cannot complete your BVN registration on the phone. The requirements state you must present yourself physically at an approved point to fill the application form and have your biometrics taken before you are issued with a unique 11-digit BVN. A biometrics kit. Photo: pixabay.com, @OpenClipart-Vectors Source: UGC How to create BVN: The manual way Now that you know it is not possible to open BVN online, you should schedule an appointment soon to acquire the number. The process is straightforward, as long as you have all the requirements. Requirements If you want to get your BVN, you must have the following documents. Valid Nigerian International Passport/ National ID Card/ Drivers License/ International Passport (for non-Nigerians) One recent passport photograph A BVN enrolment form (provided at the point of registration or downloaded online) Enrolment fee (confirm the amount at the enrolment centre beforehand) An appointment slip (Most registration points require prior booking at a specified fee, so you will be required to present your appointment slip) NB: If you have previously enrolled for BVN registration, do not repeat it because it will lead to a duplicate enrolment, yet a new BVN will not be generated. People living in the diaspora can apply for BVN at the approved centres. Procedure Now that you have accepted you cannot create BVN online and meet all the requirements above, follow the steps below to register for a Bank Verification Number. On an internet-enabled device, visit the official website of your approved registration centre. Complete your BVN enrolment pre-registration form, then schedule an appointment. Ensure you book a date you are certain you will be available. Follow the prompts to pay the booking fee. On the D-day, present yourself physically at the registration centre, carrying all the requirements. Do not forget your appointment slip. Once you get to the centre, you will be assisted by the staff to complete the process. You will be required to pay a specified enrolment fee. NB: Kindly note that centres do not send your Bank Verification Number once created. Instead, you will have to visit the centre again to receive it. It takes about 24 hours after enrolment to get the number. Why should you register for BVN? The benefits of getting your Bank Verification Number are listed below. It addresses issues of identity theft, thus protecting you from unauthorised access and exposure to fraud. It gives a unique identity that can be verified across the Nigerian Banking Industry. The number is accepted as a means of identification across all Nigerian banks. Biometrics fingerprint security. Photo: pixabay.com, @TheDigitalArtist Source: UGC What is BVN? BVN is a scheme introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria to protect customers' transactions and enhance confidence in the Nigerian banking industry. It identifies you via your fingerprints or signature. Is BVN compulsory? Yes, it is compulsory to get a BVN. How do I register for BVN online? It is not possible to enrol for the number online. You can only schedule an appointment online, but the process requires you to present yourself in person at your preferred enrolment centre. How many digits is a BVN? A BVN has 11 digits. How long does it take to get a BVN? It takes about 24 hours to get the number after enrolment. What should I do if I forgot my BVN? If you forgot your number, you should visit the bank/ centre where you registered to retrieve it. While many people would want to use an online BVN registration system, it is not possible. Instead, you can schedule an appointment online and then physically present yourself at the enrolment centre for the process. READ ALSO: How to register for OTP online: Step-by-step guide to follow Legit.ng recently published a guide on how to register for OTP online. One of the most popular transaction protection methods in the contemporary world is two-factor authentication, commonly known as 2FA. One of the ways 2FA works is through a One-time PIN, commonly known as OTP. When activated, an OTP must be keyed in before a transaction is completed. Source: Legit.ng - Speaking at the Union Banks centenary event in Lagos state, Emir Lamido Sanusi said there is need for federal government to interact and bring lasting peace to the country - Emir Sanusi said the country cannot continue to live in denial of the need for restructuring - He also said it would help the country to reduce the size of government and build a better economy Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the Emir of Kano, on Wednesday, October 25, said intelligent debate on restructuring must start to end ethnic agitations across Nigeria. Speaking at the Union Banks centenary event in Lagos state, the Emir Sanusi said there is need for federal government to interact and bring lasting peace in the country. Punch reports that the Emir said the current constitution which states the country must have governors and deputies in all the 36 states, president and vice president, ministers from every state, over 109 senators and over 360 House of representatives, 774 local chairmen are not sustainable. READ ALSO: Senators take pity on Kogi civil servants, donate over 1,200 bags of rice to workers Emir Sanusi lamented that a system where huge public revenue is spent annually on public servants should be discontinued. According to him, In each local government, you have 10 councillors and speakers and several special advisers and you are surprised that you have not been able to pay workers salaries and wages? And we are saying we are going to build an economy that will take care of our people. We have failed to bring economy to the earth. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app The Emir who spoke on, No peace, no prosperity, said restructuring would help the country to reduce the size of government and build a better economy. Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that Reverend Christian Ekong, the archbishop and national president of the Lutheran Church of Nigeria, advised President Buhari's government not to toy with the issue of restructuring currently being canvassed by a cross section of Nigerians. Reverend Ekong on Wednesday, October 25, said the restructuring remains the only hope for Nigeria. Do you prefer a restructuring of Nigeria or should we just split-up? - on Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit.ng - The inspector general of police, Ibrahim Idris, has been accused by Senator Isah Misau, of purchasing two Prado jeeps for Aisha Buharis private use - Misau also accused the IGP of manipulating his retirement date on the list for senior police officers, displaying favoritism, and receiving bribes for the promotion of officers - The IGP would appear before the Senate to give his own side of the story next week, and Mrs Buhari has stated that she would respond to the grievous allegations only if they are published Senator Isah Misau (APC-Bauchi Central) has stated that the inspector general of police, Ibrahim Idris, bought two Prado SUVs for Aisha Buhari, wife of the president, Vanguard reports. The lawmaker made his comments when he appeared before the Senate committee mandated to probe the IGP. Legit.ng gathers that Misau stated that Idris had purchased the vehicles which were not allocated in the budget, for Mrs Buharis personal use, even when she had asked for a Sienna and Hiace. He stated: The inspector-general of police gave the first lady, wife of the president, two SUVs, and this came through a letter from the ADC to the first lady who requested on her behalf that she needed a Sienna and Hiace for personal use, but she was given the two SUVs for her private use. The senator further told his colleagues that the IGP had manipulated his retirement date on the list for senior police officers. Misau accused Idris of employing civilians in his office and going against the code and act establishing the Nigeria Police Force, by engaging the services of a retired officer to handle investigations. READ ALSO: How to write an application letter for job vacancy? The senator further insisted that his allegations that senior officers were paying bribes to secure promotions were true. He stated: Sometime in July 2017, I was in the office of Senator Baba Kaka, Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business when a Daily Trust reporter sought my views on the information that policemen pay as much as N500,000 for special promotion. To verify this information, I called some serving police officers who confirmed to the three of us that the information was not only true, but also that the amounts paid are up to N2,500,000, in addition to other information. He continued: I hereby forward for your consideration, the detailed terms of allegation against the Inspector General of Police, 1GP, and Police Service Commission, PSC, deployment of policemen to private organisations. Between 50,000 and 100,000 policemen are routinely deployed by the police to oil companies, oil servicing companies, banks, oil marketers, and private individuals etc, with regular payments made to the police. While these monies are estimated to run into billions monthly, they are, however, unaccounted for. Today, the situation is so bad that businessmen with dubious characters and suspicious businesses now go about with full detachment of policemen and some with full convoy and blasting siren, especially in Lagos, Port Harcourt and other major cities in the country. This worsens the countrys policing ratio of one policeman to about 800 citizens, against the UN recommended ratio of one policeman to 400 citizens. Police Service Commission, PSC, whose main function is to recruit, train, discipline, promote and retire members of the Force, appears to have left its core mandate to indulge almost exclusively in promotion racketeering. There are a lot of favoritisms in the promotion/appointment of commissioners of police. Junior deputy commissioners of police are given commissioner of police in acting capacity, against seniority and merit, thereby blocking eligible candidates. A recent example is the current Lagos state Commissioner of Police, who is a junior DCP to two other DCPs, now given acting CP and posted to Lagos. These acts of favoritism have eroded discipline in the Force, which is the backbone of any successful organisation. In reaction to Misaus claims however, Suleiman Haruna, director of information to wife of the president, reportedly stated that Mrs Buhari would react to the allegations if they are published. He stated: Let it be published first. This kind of thing is very libelous. If it is published, well have the right to respond; but for now, I dont have any information because this may be a speculation. The Senate committee investigating Misau is scheduled to invite the IGP next week, to give his own side of the story. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that President Muhammadu Buhari was alleged to have ordered a discreet screening of top police officers for a possible replacement of the inspector-general of police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris. It was alleged that the president was worried over allegations against Ibrahim Idris. Among the allegations of corruption leveled against the police boss are the ones leveled by Senator Isah Hamman Misau, some serving police officers, as well as some lawyers. If any police officer misbehaves with you, call any of these numbers - on Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit.ng - Boko Haram terrorists launched an attack on a military base in Yobe state - Eight soldiers and a civilian reportedly died in the attack - Several soldiers are still missing after the attack Members of the extremist group, Boko Haram, stormed a military base in in Sasawa town of Damaturu local government area in Yobe state on Tuesday, October 24. Channels TV reports that a top security source who begged to be anonymous said that eight soldiers including an officer and a civilian were killed in the attack. READ ALSO: Fayoses G-Wagon completely burnt down in Lagos The source said: I can authoritatively confirm to you that there was an attack at dawn yesterday at Sasawa and eight military personnel, including an officer as well as a civilian, were killed during the raid. The insurgents overran the military base having come with seven gun trucks and took the soldiers on guard unawares. Several soldiers are still missing after the attack according to the report by the terrorists. The spokesman for 3 Division, Nigerian army base in Damaturu, Colonel Kayode Ogunsanya, also confirmed the attack, claiming that some members of the Boko Haram also lost their lives in the attack. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the troops of the Nigerian army recorded a major success against Boko Haram insurgents in parts of Borno state. The success was recorded by the troops on Tuesday, October 24, in what the army described as one of the best in the outing of troops of 3 Battalion, 22 Brigade of the Operation Lafiya Dole. Boko Haram abducted my husband and the Gov't forgot about him - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng - A former minister of education, Ibrahim Shekarau, has declared that he will be running for the presidential election in 2019 - Shekarau is said to have sent out letters of notification to various stakeholders in the Peoples Democratic Party - He has also informed various leaders including religious and political leaders of his plan A former minister of education, Ibrahim Shekarau, has declared his ambition to contest in the 2019 presidential election. Shekarau on Wednesday, October 25, informed members and all relevant stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of his plans to run for presidency come 2019. Confirming this new development, the spokesperson to the former minister, Sule Ya'u, said his principal had already sent out letter of notification to the party. Ya'u said Shekarau, a former governor of Kano state has also notified relevant elders, community leaders, opinion, religious leaders and political association of his plan for the forthcoming election. READ ALSO: UPDATED: Governor Fayose escapes death, allegedly inside G Wagon when SUV mysteriously catches fire He said: "Malam Shekarau deliberately refused to make his ambition public because he does not want the relevant stakeholders to read it for the first time on the pages of newspapers. He first notified them before making it public. He is now making necessary consultations." Legit.ng gathered that in one of the letters which Shekarau sent to his political associate Hassan Indabawa, the former minister said there had been various calls placed to him from associates on his need to contest for 2019 election. READ ALSO: Misau tears IGP apart before Senate; accuses Idris of buying 2 Prado jeeps for Aisha Buhari, taking bribes, and manipulating his retirement date He said the calls began rolling in soon after the 2015 election that saw the ousting of former president Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP. Legit.ng earlier reported that the former governor of Jigawa state, Sule Lamido had also declared his plan to run for presidency in 2019. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app However, Lamido's campaign rally was reportedly attacked by thugs on Wednesday, October 25, after he delivered a speech against the incumbent president, Muhammadu Buhari. It was gathered that the thugs allegedly invaded the event with various weapons, injuring many of Lamido's supporters. APC official reveals why his party could be voted out in 2019 - on Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit.ng - Dino Melaye, the lawmaker representing Kogi West senatorial district, described the situation in the state as pitiable - Melaye said Kogi workers have not been paid salaries for about 16 to 21 months - The lawmaker later knelt down while begging others to help resolve the issues in the state Dino Melaye, the controversial senator representing the Kogi-West senatorial district, on Wednesday, October 25, put up another drama during plenary while asking for help for his state. READ ALSO: Sanusi calls for debate on restructuring In a picture posted on his Instagram page, he was seen kneeling down begging others to help Kogi state. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app According to him, Kogi workers were suffering and need immediate help from an external body. He wrote: Please save Kogi state, please help us, Kogi workers are dying. Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that senators on Wednesday, October 25, resolved to alleviate the plight of workers in Kogi following the non payment of salaries by the state government. Earlier, during plenary, following a Point of Order Melaye described the situation in the state as pitiable. Kogi workers have not been paid salaries for about 16 to 21 months. ''The non payment of salaries is now a major cause of death in the state. Mr president, this morning with a bleeding heart I bring to the notice of the Senate the very very pitiable situation of civil servant in Kogi. Today in my state we live in perilous time. Kogi West senatorial district to recall senator Dino Melaye from the Nigerian Senate - on Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit.ng - The Ijaw youths have warned the president not to take former president Goodluck Jonathan's 'gentility' for granted - The Ijaw Youth Council said the order by the court for Jonathan to appear before it is embarrassing - The council said no former president of Nigeria can be openly humiliated The Ijaw Youth Council has warned President Muhammadu Buhari not to take former president Goodluck Jonathan's 'gentility' for granted. The council also condemned the subpeona by the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Jonathan. The council said the order given to the former president by the court is an embarrassment and a slap on the entire Ijaw nation. READ ALSO: Sanusi reveals what restructuring of Nigeria will create in government In a statement issued on Thursday, October 26, by the president of the Ijaw Youth Council, Roland Oweilaemi, the council said invitation was made with mischief as a calculated effort to embarrass the former president. Oweilaemi the council and the entire people of Ijaw will not allow such to happen. He said: This present government owes a duty in all moral fronts to respect the person of President Jonathan for the sacrifices he has made to keep us united. No former president of this country has ever be openly humiliated the way and manner this present government is persecuting Jonathans family. Let it not be seen as an offense for Jonathan to peacefully hand over power to President Buhari. READ ALSO: Misau tears IGP apart before Senate; accuses Idris of buying 2 Prado jeeps for Aisha Buhari, taking bribes, and manipulating his retirement date As for the judge that issued that vexatious order, we appeal to him for the sake of our peaceful co-existence to have a rethink. Judicial decisions should be guided with public policy, public interest and public safety. "You do no good to the country if your decision tears the country apart. It is constitutional for a judge to be guided by public policy, public interest and public safety in the discharge of his judicial functions. IYC call on President Muhammadu Buhari and the comity of ex-presidents to intervene in this matter. The Ijaw nation will not sit idle by and allow her son to be publicly humiliated in such a despicable manner. "This has never happened in this country and we will not allow it to start with our son. Those who want to make history through the gentility of President Jonathan should as well be ready to dance the rhythm of the macabre sung. A word is enough for the wise." PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app Legit.ng earlier reported that Justice Okon Abang in a fresh ruling ordered that the former president appear before the court as witness on the trial of the immediate past spokesperson for the Peoples Democratic Party, Olisa Metuh. Abang in his ruling said there won't be any progress in the case if the former president does not appear before it within five days. The EFCC stage a walk against corruption - on Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit.ng - Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has returned four Super Mushshak aircraft to the Pakistan government - NAF said the returned aircraft were temporarily made available by the government - The Air Force also said it is expecting to receive five brand new Super Mushshak The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has returned the four Super Mushshak aircraft meant for the ab-initio flying training of its pilots at 401 Flying Training School Kaduna to Pakistan government. The disassembled aircraft were loaded aboard a cargo aircraft and flown out of the NAF base in the on 23 October . According to a statement by NAF: ''The 4 Super Mushshak aircraft loaned to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) by the Pakistan government, for the ab-initio flying training of its pilots at 401 Flying Training School Kaduna, have been returned to Pakistan. Nigerian Air Force returns Super Mushshak Aircraft to Pakistan. Photo credit: NAF READ ALSO: Minister of interior absent at FEC meeting as Maina's appointment creates trouble ''The disassembled aircraft were loaded aboard a cargo aircraft and flown out of the NAF Base Kaduna on 23 October 2017. ''The returned aircraft were temporarily made available by the Pakistan government, at no extra cost to the NAF, for the commencement of training of its pilots in December 2016, prior to the delivery of the 10 trainer aircraft ordered by the NAF. ''With the now returned 4 Super Mushshak trainer aircraft, the NAF was able to train 4 Instructor Pilots and graduate 16 ab-initio student pilots, including 2 female pilots, at the 401 Flying Training School Kaduna. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app Nigerian Air Force returns Super Mushshak Aircraft to Pakistan. Photo credit: NAF ''This has enhanced the ability of the NAF to train its pilots locally thereby helping to build the needed capacity to further prosecute the fight against insurgency in the North East. ''Having taken delivery of the first batch of 5 new trainer aircraft, there was no longer any need for the NAF to retain the 4 loaned Super Mushshak aircraft and hence, the return of the aircraft, in line with the agreement between the 2 parties. ''The NAF is expecting to receive the remaining 5 brand new Super Mushshak aircraft it had since ordered before the end of December 2017.'' Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that the police in Lagos on Monday, October 23, announced the arrest of four Air Force men and seven others for allegedly vandalising Lagos state water iron pipes valued at about N25 million. Nigerian Air Force winged 10 flying officers - on Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit.ng - Senator Ben Murray-Bruce in a Facebook post shared photos of the deplorable state of Enugu airport - In the post, the Bayelsa senator added that the infrastructure was in a complete state of decay Nigerian senator Ben Murray-Bruce (PDP-Bayelsa East) on Thursday, October 26, decried the current condition of the Enugu and Port Harcourt airport. In a post on his Facebook page, the senator condemned the deplorable state of the facility when the Senate's aviation committee visited the airports. READ ALSO: Federal government recovers stolen $85m from UK The roof of Enugu state airport falling apart Photo credit: Facebook, Ben Bruce He said: "Senate Aviation Committee on oversight in Enugu airport. Disgraceful airport. Dirty toilets. Failed runway, approach lights not working. Crater on runway. Falling roof. Infrastructure is in a complete state of decay. No lounge. No rest place for pilots or crew. Yet contractor has been paid in full. With over N100billion annual revenue from the aviation sector, Im speechless! DISGRACEFUL!" A photo of the airport runway not working Photo credit: Ben Murray-Bruce See the post below: The Port Harcourt airport is not any better: The deplorable state of Port Harcourt airport Photo credit: Ben Bruce PAY ATTENTION: Watch more videos on Legit.ng TV In 2015, a report published by Sleepingairports.net claimed that the Port Harcourt International Airport in Nigeria, was ranked as the worst airport in Africa. According to the report, statistics revealed that voters believe the terminal should also be awarded the most corrupt in the world, as staff and personnel in the facility take every opportunity to rip passengers off their valuables in the name of tip-off. Although, some parts of the facility are under renovation while some others are being constructed, there are virtually no seats, broken air-conditioning and a tent for Arrivals Hall. In a visit to the premises by Legit.ng on Thursday May 26, 2016, it was observed that the airport facility is yet to be effectively attended to. STREET GIST: Name a Nigerian politician who is not corrupt - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng By run75441. Originally published at Angry Bear The story as it is told is Iowas Healthcare Market has imploded. Companies have gone out of business, lost money, premiums increased, policies canceled, etc. With Obamacares fifth open-enrollment season kicking off on Nov. 1, the consequences are playing out across one of Americas most politically influential states as residents struggle to maintain coverage. It has been difficult to implement the ACA with the issues with the healthcare exchanges, Republicans badmouthing the ACA, and its first attempt at a US healthcare policy. Just one insurer is willing to sell policies in 2018. Why did it end up this way and what caused it? Gov. Kim Reynolds: Obamacare is unaffordable, unsustainable and unworkable and Obamacare has driven out consumer choice and competition. Trump: Obamacare is finished. Its dead. Its gone. There is no such thing as Obamacare anymore. Vanessa Beauregard a resident of Iowa: I cannot believe our politicians and government have put us in this situation. Its just not right when youre not a deadbeat. Dave Anderson, a health insurance expert at Duke University. Its hard to build inexpensive networks when the only hospital within 30 miles has you over a barrel. Aaron Todd, chief strategy officer for the Iowa Primary Care Association.: There wasnt a political will to make hard decisions or move people. They basically saw [keeping the noncompliant plans] as a relief valve. Nick Gerhart, who authorized the noncompliant plans to remain in the market as the states insurance commissioner. : Why would I stand in the way of people keeping their insurance? It was a viable option. What does it look like if theyre in? The [premium] increases still would have been significant. Disagreeing with these being a destabilizing factor. Here is the story as I know it, a half commitment to the ACA with a lot of resistance from Republicans. CoOportunity turned out to be the canary in the co-op coal mine. In the ensuing three years, 19 of the 23 nonprofit startup plans across the country, seeded with more than $2 billion in loans, collapsed after piling up huge financial losses. Gerhart, a Republican appointee, blames the disastrous performance in part to a lack of effective oversight from federal officials at the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Effectively youre running a venture capital firm out of CMS with nobody who understands insurance. . After three years on the sidelines, Wellmark finally entered Iowas exchange this year. It did not go well. Company officials attributed its troubles in part to a single patient who was costing the company $1 million a month in claims. A company executive revealed in a speech to the Des Moines Rotary Club earlier this year that the customer in question was a 17-year-old boy with hemophilia. If one could look to one and two things which plagued the ACA in Iowa, one could look to the Risk Corridor Program and Reissuance Program. Both were put in place to : Compensate insurance companies for losses whether nonprofit or for profit. To cover those instances when an insurance company would end up with one, two, or a few of the $1 million dollar insured a company had to cover, could not deny for pre-existing conditions, or cancel due to illness or disorder (which by-the-way still exists in Advantage programs). So what happened? The Risk Corridor program in the PPACA protects insurance companies from losses during the first three years if they did not estimate premiums properly which can happen in new markets with different characteristics. With the mandate to insure all with pre-existing conditions, keeping children on parents plans, the exchanges, etc.; the Risk Corridor program was put in place (besides two other safe guards) giving insurance companies and Co-ops a three year window to get it right. Besides looking at losses, the Risk Corridor also looked at the profits of companies who had estimated accurately, had excess profits as a result, and required them to pay a ratio of excess profits into the Risk Corridor fund to help underwrite the losses of other companies. Outside of a plus or minus 3% was the basis for whether you gave up a ratio of profits or received a ratio of funding from the Risk Corridor program. The Risk Corridor program is nothing new and was used successfully with Medicare Part D forcing the evil insurance companies to share profits with the government. It still is in place for Part D and still generates additional revenue for the government. I do not recall any Republicans complaining about funding for insurance companies then; but then too, Part D was Bushs legislature while the PPACA legislation was Obamas. Strictly politics and constituents will pay the price of it. Depicting the Risk Corridor particulars rather than attempting to explain it in writing will give a better explanation. Click here to better read the chart. Please note the plus or minus 3% and then the different ratios of revenue sharing or funding from and to healthcare companies and Co-ops. So what happened? The Risk Corridor program works well for Part D, brings in revenue for the government, and is still in place. February 2014 found Rubio testifying to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on behalf of his bill. At the same time the CBO released their evaluation of the Risk Corridor program. Instead of being detrimental and a fiscal drag, the CBO projected the federal government would collect $8 to 16 billion from health insurers. Premiums would outpace claims, $8 billion would be distributed to the plans losing money, and $8 billion in additional revenue would be left for the federal government. Another House probe suggested initially there would be a shortfall with claims exceeding premiums. The Republicans were not sitting idle and were investigating ways to derail the PPACA. As the ranking member of the Budget Committee, Senator Jeff Sessions and the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Rep. Fred Upton came up with a plan to attack the legality of the Risk Corridor payments. They joined forces with the Appropriations Panel Chairman Rep. Jack Kingston whose panel funds the Department of Health and Human Services and the Labor Department. Kind of get the picture so far? Questioning whether the Risk Corridor payments were being appropriated correctly, the Appropriations Panel forced the HHS to make changes in how they appropriated funds allowing Congress to stop all appropriations. The PPACA could no longer appropriate the funds as they were subject to the discretion of Congress. The GAO issued an opinion on the legality of what the HHS was doing with funds. GAO Letter to Senator Jeff Sessions. September 30, 2014: Discussion; At issue here is whether appropriations are available to the Secretary of HHS to make the payments specified in section 1342(b)(1). Agencies may incur obligations and make expenditures only as permitted by an appropriation. U.S. Const., art. I, 9, cl. 7; 31 U.S.C. 1341(a)(1); B-300192, Nov. 13, 2002, at 5. Appropriations may be provided through annual appropriations acts as well as through permanent legislation. See, e.g., 63 Comp. Gen. 331 (1984). The making of an appropriation must be expressly stated in law. 31 U.S.C. 1301(d). It is not enough for a statute to simply require an agency to make a payment. B-114808, Aug. 7, 1979. Section 1342, by its terms, did not enact an appropriation to make the payments specified in section 1342(b)(1). In such cases, we next determine whether there are other appropriations available to an agency for this purpose. Further down in the GAO letter, the GAO leaves the HHS an out of using other already available appropriations for the Risk Corridor payments to insurance companies. Classifying the payments as user fees was another way to retain the authority to spend other appropriations already made by Congress. Otherwise if revenue from the Risk Corridor program fell short, the administration would need approval for addition appropriations from Congress. As it was, the HHS could no longer appropriate funds to make Risk Corridor payments unless the funds were already appropriated by Congress or Congress approved new funds which was not going to happen with a Republican controlled House. Appropriations Panel Chairman Rep. Jack Kingston put the final nail in the coffin by inserting one sentence in Section 227 of the 2015 Appropriations Act (dated December 16, 2014) which escaped notice. In the 2015 Appropriations Act, the sentence inserted said no other funds in this bill could be used for Risk Corridor payments. Sec. 227. None of the funds made available by this Act from the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund or the Federal Supplemental Medical Insurance Trust Fund, or transferred from other accounts funded by this Act to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid ServicesProgram Management account, may be used for payments under section 1342(b)(1) of Public Law 111-148 (relating to risk corridors). This action blocked the HHS from obtaining any of the necessary Risk Corridor funds from any other Congressional appropriated program funds. Nothing was said by Senator Sessions, Representatives Upton or Kingston before passage on what they had managed to do. It was Senator Rubio who issued a news release saying the provision was appropriate even though he had little to do with it. In the end, Colorado Rep. Jack Kingstons one sentence purposely created a $2.5 billion shortfall in the Risk-Corridor program in 2015 as the HHS had collected $362 million in fees. Insurers who had misjudged the market sought nearly $2.9 billion in payments, many nonprofit insurance Co-ops failed, healthcare insurance companies began to raise premiums to compensate, and some healthcare insurance companies recognizing an untenable environment created by Republicans took their losses and left the market. If you wish to know why there are few insurance companies and no Coops issuing healthcare policies on the exchanges, the policies are arbitrarily expensive by default, and companies are leaving or going bankrupt, etc. Ask your Republican Senators and Representatives why they sabotaged the Risk Corridor Program. An unseemly leak out of a six-person dinner that included UK prime minister Theresa May and European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker has shaken more insider accounts loose. They give a chilling picture of a dispirited Government, trudging reluctantly towards a future the ministers (save the deluded opportunists like Boris Johnson) know they will regret. The reality that the UK lacks the time and the operational capacity to manage a Brexit, even if that had been a good idea in the first place, has finally sunk in. The dinner leak, a nasy bit of work given that May had been promised secrecy, wound up, as a similarly detailed account of the last May-Juncker et al dinner had, in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. This report, written from Jean-Claude Junckers perspective and widely assumed to be the handiwork of his chief of staff, Martin Selymer, was seen as so potentially damaging to May that Angela Merkel was outraged. It wasnt just that May was depicted as desperate, effectively begging her EU counterparts to get her out of her political fix. It was also that the story presented as emotionally and physically exhausted, despondent and discouraged. A short but important piece by Rachel Sylvester at The Times provides more vignettes of the rising desperation and paralysis among officials involved with Brexit. I cant recall reading anything remotely like this: Those who have seen Mrs May privately in recent weeks describe her as stricken and stunned. On one occasion she sat in silence for almost ten minutes while the visitor she had invited to see her waited for her to lead the conversation. He left the meeting deciding she no longer wanted to be prime minister. Sylvesters overview: Across Whitehall, ministers are holding their red boxes with one hand, and their noses with the other, as they see the biggest change of their lifetime unfolding on their watch, even though this is a revolution they do not believe in. No wonder the government seems so anxious and uncomfortable. We are trapped in a box, admits one minister. Parliament feels frozen by the referendum but people voted for a fantasy we cant deliver. They can only have Brexit if theyre prepared to suffer the pain. It is an extraordinary situation. In the past, ministers have resigned from the government in principle over much less. This is not so much a constitutional mess as an ethical one, with ambiguity on all sides. She cuts Corbyn no slack, pointing out that he has railed against the EU as a capitalist oppressor, yet is now trying to hold the future at bay via a transition. David Davis apparently lacks the intelligence to recognize the absurdities that he espouses, and so is not yet as ground down as May is. He was savaged this week for telling Parliament that it would not be able to vote on a Brexit deal (charitably assuming there is one) and forced to retreat. From the Telegraph: David Davis is under mounting pressure after he was forced into a climbdown for saying that Parliament may be denied a vote on a final trade deal before Brexit An hour later Theresa May contradicted Mr Davis at Prime Ministers Questions, telling MPs she was confident they would get a vote before Britain left the EU One Tory minister told The Telegraph that Mr Davis has mentally checked out and doesnt seem to care amid claims that he could stand down after delivering Brexit in 2019. The wee problem is that Davis is correct. A vote on Brexit is a mere courtesy. Parliament gave the Government unqualified authority to trigger Article 50 and voted down an amendment that would have required approval of a final Brexit deal.1As has been made crystal clear, the UK is out of the EU, Brexit deal or no Brexit deal, Parliamentary vote or not, in March 2019 unless the EU is nice enough to work out a transition deal. The UK is so incapable of doing that that Michel Barnier has made clear his side is going to sort that out. This approach again cuts the cards in the EUs favor. An old saying in negotiations is He who controls the documents controls the deal. Whatever the EUs proposal for a transition deal is, that becomes the template from which the UK will try to negotiate better terms. Good luck with that. However, the Parliamentary approval contretemps appears to have diverted attention from vastly more alarming parts of Davis testimony. Key sections of a must-read post by Ian Dunt (hat tip Richard Smith): A substantial section of the British political class, from journalists to think tank bosses to politicians, seems to feel a frisson of manly excitement at the prospect of no-deal It soon became clear that when the Brexit secretary says no-deal, he actually means that there would be no trade deal. This would indeed be catastrophic for Britain, cutting it off from its largest trading partner. But its only half the story. With no agreement in place, Britain would also lose the ability to manage nuclear materials or aviation in the manner it does now, along with countless other legal and regulatory relationships which currently operate under the umbrella of EU membership. This scenario, though, was so improbable its off the scale, the Brexit secretary said. This means that when Davis says no-deal, he actually means a deal, just one that excludes the future trading relationship The Brexit secretary insisted there were contingency plans for what to do with customs We can only hope hes right. A recent Institute for Government report found civil servants had a patchy understanding of the customs process and needed to be massively levelled up in a huge cross-departmental project if they were going to be able to deal with the ramification of leaving the EU. Dunt gave a high-level recap of a problem that we were early to flag as disastrous. The Customs Office has a massive systems upgrade due to be completed a mere two months before Brexit. Given the history of large IT projects, it is almost certain not to be done on time, even before taking into account reports that it looks wobbly. Even if this revamp comes off swimmingly, it will be able to handle less than half the volume of post-Brexit Customs declarations. As Dunt continued: But this is only half the story of being able to deliver on a no-deal threatit presents the UK government with an unsolvable logical puzzle: You dont know what you need to do until its too late to do it. If there is a trade deal on tariffs but not country-of-origin, that entails one arrangement. If there are special measures on agricultural products, that is another. If there is some sort of deal on single market access, thats another. There are countless options. And the only way to know which one you need is to complete the talks. But if you wait until you complete the talks, you cant prepare for a no-deal outcome And once no-deal was activated, what happens then? Davis was asked today about the 57 impact assessments into the effect of Brexit which the government is trying to keep secret Because the government is so intent on keeping these reports secret, this was one of the most accidentally informative things Davis could have said. After all, his views on the pointlessness of assessing future trade sit rather uncomfortably with the fact he actually commissioned those reports. Take those three points together: In just over an hour, Davis conceded that leaving without a whole range of technical agreements was off the scale improbable. He had no answer for the logical conundrum of customs planning. And he hinted that the governments own research into what it would entail is extremely bleak. As smart as Dunt is, he used this to reach what I see as the wrong conclusion: that no-deal even it means only no trade deal, is a bluff and therefore wonthappen. But in fact, even though it is playing out over months and years, Brexit is a tightly coupled system. The hard 2019 deadline and the lack of any way to stop it, and the extraordinary complexity of achieving any deal, be it an exit or a transition agreement (no one is discussing the only viable option, a standstill) means there will be no deal. It would be impossible absent war-level mobilization on the UK side, and nothing even remotely like that is happening. And thats before you get to all the other impediments: the hollowed-out, unprofessional Foreign Office, the lack of serious engagement with the issues on the UK side, the self-inflicted wound of the snap election, the legacy of ill will created by the UK towards the EU badly distorting domestic dynamics and not inclining the EU to cut the UK any breaksthe list goes on. Despite the apparent luxury of time, the Brexit process is moving forward, automatically, with no mechanism for halting the process. It is a slow-motion version of a meltdown of a nuclear core. And Mays haunted look makes perfect sense. She is in the same position as one of the generals, whether French or German, who led an army against Russia too close to the winter and was trapped by having gone too far into enemy territory to retreat but not far enough in time to win. The distance, the terrain, the lack of adequate clothing, the inability to live off the land, in both those forays turned what was expected to be a glorious victory into a disastrous defeat. Even the soldiers who made it back were reduced to autonomotons, so depleted that mustering the energy to put one foot in front of the other in the debilitating cold was a form of heroism.Those who had enough strength left to think ahead knew even if they made it home, that their country had suffered a humiliating, devastating defeat on their watch and nothing would be the same. _____ 1 With the benefit of hindsight, giving the Government unqualified latitude to proceed with Brexit was an even bigger mistake than the row above suggests. It is conceivable that requiring Parliamentary approval could have been used as a back door way to get Brexit negotiating leverage. Here is the opening text of Article 50: 1. Any Member State may decide to withdraw from the Union in accordance with its own constitutional requirements. 2. A Member State which decides to withdraw shall notify the European Council of its intention. The legal argument would be that the notification that the Government provided was constitutionally defective, in that the withdrawal could be effective only upon Parliament giving approval of the final deal. Lambert suggested that this would set up a situation analogous to what in programming is called a race condition: A race condition or race hazard is the behavior of an electronic, software, or other system where the output is dependent on the sequence or timing of other uncontrollable events. It becomes a bug when events do not happen in the order the programmer intended. The term originates with the idea of two signals racing each other to influence the output first. Had this occurred, opponents of Brexit could have lodged a case with the ECJ demanding an injunction, arguing that the UK should never have submitted this defective Brexit notice and the EU should not have accepted it. This would almost certainly not stop Brexit but would have thrown a massive procedural spanner into the works. If the Government were prepared to continue to work on Brexit planning (big if) this would buy them more time to get their house in order. And while UK businesses would not like uncertainty, they might also hold off longer on making decisions to move operations out of the UK, which could reduce the damage. (Natural News) As the lunatic fringe of the anti-Trump ultra-Left readies to scream helplessly at the sky on the one-year anniversary of Donald Trump winning the election, a professor at the University of Illinois (UoI) is on her own personal crusade to completely abolish mathematics because she believes that subjects like algebra and geometry are inherently racist. Rochelle Gutierrez is listed on the UoI website as specializing in equity issues in mathematics education. Her focus is on paying particular attention to how race, class, and language affect teaching and learning, which basically means that she sees white privilege in every facet of education. In the case of math, Gutierrez thinks that because minorities are supposedly deficient in the subject compared to whites, the subject is flawed and in need of an overhaul. According to Campus Reform, Gutierrez recently published a book outlining her personal manifesto, in which she believes she makes a solid case that algebraic and geometry skills perpetuate unearned privilege among whites. She is so upset at the subject of math, in fact, that she is trying to raise awareness about the politics that mathematics brings in society. This is what she has to say in her own words: 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. Research shows that Asians, not white people, are actually most proficient in math and science For being a college professor, Gutierrez sure is dumb when it comes to understanding the truth about the world around her. She is obviously unaware of the inconvenient factoid that, at least according to research published by the Lynch School of Education, Asians are actually the world leaders in their proficiency in both math and science. What this means is that, using the logic of Gutierrez, mathematics is technically perpetuating Asian privilege, and teachers of the subject need to be aware of this when instructing their students. Gutierrez would never go down that road, though, because the political incorrectness of stating this fact would collectively trigger every social justice warrior and feminist on the planet. Further, math (as well as science) is a subject in which boys tend to outperform girls, according to scientific research. As much as the Snowflake Generation would have everyone believe that the sexes are equal in every way (except when females are better than males, of course), the evidence suggests that the male mind tends towards being more analytical, thus why boys tend to do better in math and science than girls. Researchers also found that boys tend to have a more positive self-concept than girls in mathematics and science, and that, from grade 4 to 8, the average instructional time for mathematics begins to decrease but increases for science, reads a press release issued by none other than Boston College, a well-respected institution of higher learning. However, Gutierrezs beef is more about her hatred of whites than it is about which sex does better at math. This is evidenced by recent statements she made lamenting the fact that terms like Pythagorean theorem and pi originate from Greek and European systems of math. She also hates the fact that many math teachers are white, which she believes perpetuates discrimination against minority groups. What Gutierrez is basically saying with all this is her personal belief that non-whites just arent as good at math as whites, which in and of itself is racist. But the irony would likely go right over that bitter, empty head of hers. Sources for this article include: DailyMail.co.uk DailyCaller.com Illinois.edu CampusReform.org NaturalNews.com 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. On a recent tour of the 13,000-square-foot Santa Rosa warehouse donated to the Red Cross to run logistics and house supplies for survivors of the deadly fires in the North Bay, regional Red Cross CEO Trevor Riggen addressed some of the most pervasive and damaging concerns swirling on social media and in the community about the agencys disaster response. For any disaster youre never there fast enough or big enough," Riggen said. "We know that criticism comes from love for the community. We just take it in stride, we learn from it. Every disaster because there's usually valuable constructive criticism, we have to have to look at and say how can we be better? Riggen said the response to the current disaster was influenced by what the Red Cross learned from mistakes made during the 2015 Valley Fire in Lake County. A Facebook post complaining about the agencys shunning of local volunteers and donated goods went viral. Riggen said the agency was not prepared to shelter people for two weeks, and that it did not have a system to accept help from hundreds of volunteers or the tons of donated clothes, toys, and furniture. This time, with 12,000 people whove signed up to volunteer since the fires ignited on Oct. 8, the Red Cross took a different approach. Within 24 hours, we had a volunteer intake center set up in Rohnert Park. Our online system, we changed that so we could accept people to register as volunteers, Riggen said, adding that many of those who signed up were deployed quickly to help with the disaster relief. Also different this time, the organization is now working with Goodwill in the Bay Area and Sacramento to sort through mounds of donations. What may not be useful to fire victims now will be available later. They have given us $325,000 in vouchers that we're now sharing with our clients at our casework centers that they can go and pick out what they need when they need it, Riggen said. RED CROSS DONATIONS BREAKDOWN At the peak of the North Bay firestorm, Riggen said the Red Cross opened 18 shelters, providing 27,000 overnight stays. Now down to four shelters, the Red Cross is transitioning to provide financial help. He says 91 percent of the donations designated for the California fires will be used on program services. Those services include $125 debit cards, medical equipment and even funeral costs depending on what families say they need. Donated funds also go towards the cost of keeping the Red Cross running: truck fuel, food, cleaning supplies and hygiene kits. RED CROSS FUNDS FOR LONG-TERM RECOVERY Once the initial funds are distributed and the community moves into the rebuilding phase, Riggen said leftover funds designated for a specific disaster will be distributed based on follow-ups with fire victims who have the biggest need. Who has unmet needs? Where are renters who didnt have rental insurance? Where are homeowners that are underinsured?" he said. "If we have the resources to do long-term recovery, and thats undetermined, we flag those cases to make sure we can come back to them. We do that in partnership with Catholic charities, St. Vincent de Paul, Riggen said, explaining that caseworkers are supposed to follow up with fire victims to find out what they still need. RED CROSS CRITICISM IN SONOMA, NAPA About 3,000 people signed a petition calling for the Red Cross to leave Napa, and some local residents in Sonoma County say they were given mixed instructions from Red Cross workers when they tried to volunteer at the shelters. We brought their laundry back, their linens and Red Cross blankets, and they told us we could not bring it back because it wasnt sterile. It was against their policy, Bryan Patterson told NBC Bay Area. Patterson and his brother said they turned their appliance repair business into a laundry service during the crisis, working 12-16-hour days, and converting some brand new washers and dryers into a makeshift laundromat for people staying at the evacuation shelters. Patterson said Red Cross volunteers initially asked him to launder 12 bags of blankets and linens, but when he returned with the clean laundry, a different set of volunteers told him to keep it. I was not taking them back with me," Patterson said. "I put in the time, my volunteers put in the time and effort to wash them, fold them. So I left them there. We avoided the Red Cross and started working with the other evacuation centers that were being run by local churches. Riggen acknowledges miscommunication can exacerbate an already tense situation following a disaster. Anyone who ever worked in a shelter knows that that's one of the most stressful environments you can possibly operate in," he said. "The people we serve are stressed. I'm sure there's times where the wrong thing is said or the wrong decision made, but we try to move very quickly to adjust that if it does happen. The Red Cross is encouraging people to register now with the agency to receive the financial assistance through the debit cards and to allow caseworkers to follow up in the coming months. The Red Cross wants to make it clear this help is for everyone affected, including noncitizens. To sign up, bring a photo ID with an address or a utility bill or other document showing residency in the fire-stricken areas. Check with local counties for addresses to the Red Cross assistance centers. If you have a tip for Vicky Nguyen about this or any other story, you can email her directly at vicky@nbcbayarea.com or you can email theunit@nbcbayarea.com or call 888-996-TIPS. Follow Vicky Nguyen on Twitter www.twitter.com/VickyNguyenTV and Facebookwww.facebook.com/VickyNguyenTV Click here to submit tips online Halloween is just days away, but its not too late to come up with some last-minute plans. Here are our top picks for Halloween events happening across the Bay Area: San Francisco: San Francisco Ghost Hunt (ages 10+, $25): There are still tickets left for the Friday evening ghost hunt. A guide will take you through Pacific Heights, one of the least-damaged neighborhoods of the 1906 earthquake and subsequent fire. In addition to learning about historic local figures, the guide will attempt to scare you with ghost stories how the legends lived, how they died, and the reports of their hauntings ever since. Expect a few scary surprises along the way, too. The 7D Experience at PIER 39 ($15, call for discounts for children, military and groups): The attraction gets spooky this Halloween, with an interactive ride and a chance to make your way through a zombie apocalypse, shooting down as many zombies as possible. The website boasts the 7D experience as the first interactive thrill ride complete with moving roller-coaster seats. California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park: This classic event promises to be both entertaining and educational. Activities include trick-or-treating, dancing, face painting, magic shows, live animal shows, pumpkins carving, crafts and food and beverages. San Francisco Boo at the Zoo: (All ages, tickets $20 and under) Take the whole family to trick or treat surrounded by animals of all kinds. Feel free to wander through the Haunted Nature Trail...if youre brave enough. North Bay: Blind Scream Haunted House (Ages 12+, check the website for price details): According to Sonoma Countys official website, Blind Scream presents two terrifying haunted houses to horrify you for several bone-chilling nights in October. The haunted house called the Slaughter Shack, sure to make you scream. Petaluma Cemetery Tour (all ages, $10 to $15): The Petaluma Museum Association will be presenting their annual cemetery tour featuring noted locals from the past.: Halloween Costume Carnival (all ages, free admission): The Lighthouse Christian Church in Sonoma will be hosting a festival thats light on the scares. There will be bounce houses, candy and a costume contest. Food and drinks can be purchased for an additional fee. Details: Halloween at Howarth Park: Santa Rosas Howarth Park will feature trick-or-treating, ponies and a carousel. Local businesses have also pledged to hand out sweet treats. South Bay: Winchester Mystery House (kid-friendly, prices range): The iconic San Jose home will get a lot more publicity come February thats when the major motion picture about the film is released nationwide in theaters. Get an inside look at what is hailed to be the most haunted house in the country in late October or early November. Deer Hollow Farm in Cupertino: (Free admission, kid-friendly) This farm will transform into a spooky forest with haunted barnyards. Enjoy children's activities and crafts and meet Deer Hollow's friendly farm animals. Spooktacular Halloween Laser Light Show at De Anza College (all ages, see website for ticket information): Celebrate Halloween with spooky music and laser lights under the planetariums majestic sky. East Bay: Stranger Things Artist Tribute Show (all ages, $10): Celebrate the return of Netflix hit show Stranger Things with this one-night-only art show. Featuring original artwork, a live-painting session and tons of games, this Saturday evening event is sure to be fun for any fan. Just dont get caught in the upside down. Lafayette Trick or Treating (all ages, free): Opt for a fun, safe and free Halloween event. Appropriate for all ages, children and their parents, grandparents are invited to Trick-or-Treat on Mt. Diablo Blvd. from Oak Hill Rd. to Dewing Ave. and in La Fiesta Square from 4:00-6:00pm on Friday, October 27, 2017. Trunk or Treat Pleasant Hill (all ages, free): Bring the whole family in costume and enjoy the evening going from trunk to trunk, collecting candy from community members who have decorated their vehicles for this fun, spooktacular event. Crafts, activities and a goodie bag for each child. Thriller Night at OMCA: (All ages, prices range) Paying tribute to the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, the Oakland Museum of California will be trading its annual Friday night festivities into a spooktacular fete. In addition to local cuisine and beer and wine serving areas, organizers have arranged for live music and dancing, including Thriller-themed dance lessons. Boo at the Zoo: (all ages, prices range with special discounts) The Oakland Zoo will be offering trick-or-treating, a dance party and face painting. Animal lovers might enjoy making and feeding treats to the zoos many four-legged friends. The event will be held on Saturday and Sunday. Children in the North Bay are getting ready to return to school for the first time since the wildfires ignited, devastating most everything in their path. In Santa Rosa, teachers and administrators were able to reenter campuses Wednesday, on the heels of an intensive clean-up. There were tears and hugs as teachers some of whom have lost their homes shared stories and began putting together lessons, thinking of welcoming back students whose lives may have been upended. Seventh-grader Alexa Yanez Valdez said she enjoys her time at Chops Teen Center where daily visits have nearly doubled since the fire. Now, though, shes considering what middle school will be like. I am happy to go back to school, Alexa admitted. Her family was forced to evacuate their home, which did not burn. Alexa is concerned about students who have lost everything. It just shocks me about the fire ... it was really close to our house too, she said. Like dozens of other Santa Rosa City Schools, Piner High School has been closed since Oct. 9. Some schools plan to reopen on Friday, while others will do so on Monday. Santa Rosa High School District Superintendent Diann Kitamura said one school burned down and a school farm site was damaged. The soot, the smoke, the ash went everywhere, she said. Twenty-four schools needed to be cleaned. Administrators learned that 77 staff members lost their homes, while 900 students lived in areas that are now burned. It remains unknown exactly how many students homes were reduced to embers, Kitamura said. We need to see their faces on Friday morning and Monday morning to determine if they are OK and, if not, what their needs are, she said. History teacher Zoe Miller lost her home. We were one of the first to go, she said. She is now renting a house and returned to Piner High School on Wednesday. I walked into my classroom and I cried, said an emotional Miller. I am really looking forward to seeing my students, my kids. Backpacks and supplies are ready for those who need them. The school district also plans to have substitutes teachers lined up, in case teachers need a break. Counselors are available and displaced students will be given free lunch. A recent gang shootout at a house party in San Francisco's Bernal Heights neighborhood has concerned neighbors and city leaders calling for a probe into the home's owner. A spray of bullets sent people scrambling for cover in the normally safe area two weekends ago during what neighbors described as a rowdy party. "What can only be described as a lengthy gunbattle, both on foot and in cars and circling around the neighborhood as well," San Francisco police Capt. John Hart said. Two people were injured, and police are still looking for the people involved in the gunbattle. According to the police, people from across the Bay Area converged on the neighborhood to attend the house party. City leaders want to make sure it doesnt happen again. They said the home shouldnt have been available as a short-term rental on Airbnb. The city says the owner lives in Bali, Indonesia. The house is currently listed as a long-term rental. City Supervisor Hilary Ronen said thats because Airbnb and VRBO pulled it from their platforms after the shootout. The citys law regulating short-term rentals should have stopped the house party from happening. "Had Airbnb not sued the city, preventing it from being implemented, then we would have kept this horrific incident in the city," Ronen said. Airbnb recently settled that lawsuit. Its now slowly removing properties from its platform that are not properly registered with the citys office of short-term rentals. Residents also want the city to do something about the absentee homeowner. "When its somebody like this guy, who was living out of the country, and its turning into unregulated party house and unregulated club, then that is a very dangerous situation,' neighbor Bill Shields said. Ronen said her office is working with the City Attorneys Office to see if theres any further legal action the city can take against the homeowner. AirBnB provided the following statement Thursday: There have been over 200 million guest arrivals in Airbnb listings and negative incidents are extremely rare. We have zero tolerance for this type of behavior and upon learning of this incident, we permanently banned this guest from our platform and suspended the listing. Additionally, we have reached out to law enforcement to offer our assistance and are in contact with city officials. The overwhelming majority of Airbnb hosts and guests are good neighbors and respectful travelers, but when issues happen to arise, we work to make things right. Regarding the neighbors that were impacted, we are currently working to support them under our Host Protection Insurance program which will cover property damage that resulted from this incident. Oakland police and the FBI announced Thursday that a man who had addresses in both Oakland and Vallejo was charged with murder this week for the death of a musician struck by a stray bullet outside of a bar in downtown Oakland in 2015. But suspect Dejour Jamerson will never stand trial for the death of 26-year-old Emiliano "Emilio" Nevarez because Jamerson was killed in Placer County in the early morning hours of Nov. 11, 2016, when he got into a crash while fleeing from police there, Oakland police Sgt. Eric Milina said. Jamerson took off when police tried pulling him over for failing to yield and driving without license plates. "We're at least satisfied we have the right person," said FBI special agent in charge John Bennett. Nevarez, a bass player and vocalist for the punk rock bank The Lucky Eejits, was packing up his equipment when a bullet struck him in the 400 block of 14th Street in Oakland at about 1:15 a.m. on April 5, 2015, which was Easter Sunday, police said. NBC Bay Area Nevarez and the band had just finished performing at the Golden Bull bar, according to Milina. "He (was) a musician out of Berkeley, practicing his craft," Bennett said. "He (was) an artist and for someone to tear that fabric apart is a shame." Authorities said Nevarez wasn't the intended target of the gunfire and that two people had been engaged in an argument unrelated to him when someone started shooting. Milina said surveillance camera footage and witness tips helped authorities identify Jamerson as the culprit. Even though Jamerson is now dead, Milina said he hopes that identifying him as the suspect and formally charging him with murder "will bring some closure to the Nevarez family." Oakland Police Department He said Nevarez's family has been "devastated" by his death. "This is a tragic and sad case," Milina said. "I hope this brings some closure to the family. It doesnt bring their son back." Bennet, whose office helped Oakland police solve the cold case, said, "This is a case that should not have happened. To senselessly take someone's life and tear the fabric of the community apart is not something we will stand for." Milina said Jamerson was 22 at the time that Nevarez was killed and was 24 when he died last year. He also said Jamerson was known to Oakland police before the fatal shooting of Nevarez but didn't provide any further details. Milina said it appears that Jamerson opened fire after he got into "a spontaneous argument" with someone he didn't know beforehand. He said a second innocent victim also was injured in the shooting on April 5, 2015, but that victim survived. "We dont have someone to prosecute because he was running from cops on another case, unrelated to this," Bennett said. "However, we hope it brings comfort to the family. We did not forget nor will we forget the victims here." The FBI is helping Oakland police in trying to crack unsolved homicide cases, Milina said. "They are an immense help to a police department with strained resources." According to Nevarez's mother Bernadette Valadez, Nevarez graduated from Antioch High School, received a bachelor's degree in audio engineering from Ex'pression College, a digital arts school in Emeryville, and worked as an audio engineer in the Bay Area. NBC Bay Area's Jodi Hernandez contributed to this report. A massive California water project has drawn opposition from the Trump administration, the government said Wednesday, the latest and one of the most serious blows to Gov. Jerry Brown's plan to re-engineer the state's water system by building two giant tunnels. "The Trump administration did not fund the project and chose to not move forward with it," Russell Newell, deputy communications director for the U.S. Interior Department, said in an email. Asked if that meant the Trump administration did not support California's tunnels project, Newell said yes. While the plan is a state initiative, it would intersect with existing state and federal water projects and would require approval from the Interior Department to move ahead. Brown wants California water agencies to pay the $16 billion price tag to build two, 35-mile-long tunnels to divert part of the state's largest river, the Sacramento, to supply water to the San Francisco Bay Area and central and Southern California. But the plan has run into its biggest obstacles yet in recent weeks, when two key water districts opted not to help fund it. While the federal government was never supposed to bear the cost of the project, the Obama administration spent millions planning for it. The Interior Department's inspector-general last month challenged that financing, saying the U.S. agency under former President Barack Obama had improperly contributed $84 million in taxpayer funds to help pay for planning for the tunnels, which would be California's most ambitious water project in decades. As a presidential candidate, Donald Trump had called broadly for more projects to bring more water to farmers in California, the country's leading agricultural state. However, his administration had not previously taken a stand on the tunnels project pushed by California's Democratic governor, though federal wildlife agencies gave the green light in June. They found that the plan would not mean extinction for endangered and threatened native species, including native salmon. The project would dig two tunnels, each the width of a three-lane highway, to tap into the Sacramento River. Brown's administration and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California argued the giant pipes would make for more reliable water supplies, especially for the more arid south. Supporters and opponents disagree on the impact for struggling native species. Opponents say the tunnels could be used to drain much of the water from the West Coast's largest estuary -- the San Francisco Bay and adjoining rivers. Brown spokesman Evan Westrup and Lisa Lien-Mager, a spokeswoman for the state Natural Resources Agency, did not immediately respond to requests for comment Wednesday on the Trump administration's stand. "At a minimum, this announcement certainly complicates the state's chances of ever funding and permitting the massive twin tunnels project," said Doug Obegi, a senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council, which opposes the plan. "It's yet another reason for the state to transparently work with all stakeholders to reconsider this proposal." The Trump administration has targeted several projects supported by his predecessor, from immigration initiatives to international trade deals. Trump's policies also directly contrast with many of those backed by Brown, who has referred to the president's supporters as cave-dwellers and last month called Trump's actions in office "stupid and dangerous and silly." Newell, with the Interior Department, released the stance against the tunnels in response to a request Tuesday by California's Democratic members of Congress for a new probe of U.S. spending on the project under Obama. Five Democrats, including opponents of the tunnels, asked the U.S. General Accountability Office to determine whether the planning payments were illegal. "The $84 million spent in taxpayers' money without disclosure to Congress and kept hidden from the public were decisions driven and executed by the Obama administration and that team," Newell said. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke "believes that using tax dollars wisely and ethically is a big responsibility and is at the heart of good government," Newell said. Federal and state authorities were discussing cooperation on the project since at least 2008, when George W. Bush was in office. Obama's administration pushed for the tunnels, including funding planning costs. An Interior official under the Bush and now Trump administrations, David Bernhardt, has professional ties with a leading California water district whose support was vital to the project. However, the district, Westlands, voted last month against participating, saying it did not make sense financially for its rural water users. The owner of Apricots in Farmington said they plan to reopen the restaurant in January Apricot's owner, Ann Howard, said her husband, who is listed as the president of apricots on the Secretary of the States website, has been sick and said the restaurant is currently closed for renovations only. At least one employee reached out to NBC Connecticut and said they had not been paid. Howard said that issue has been fixed. Patrons were surprised to learn the restaurant appeared closed last week, their website states they are open seven days a week. According to Farmington tax records, the restaurant owes $28,569 in back taxes for sewer, real estate and business personal property for the time between July 2016 and July 2017 Liens were placed on the restaurant, according to Farmington town officials who tell NBC Connecticut they are unclear restaurant's status. Customers and employees have contacted NBC Connecticut with questions as to what's really going on. Howard explained over the phone Thursday morning that the taxes will be getting paid. She also said that all employees have been paid. "After 25 years in business, it was time to regroup, rethink and refresh. We will not destroy its legacy as a train station. However, it is going to be totally different," Howard said about rebranding the restaurant over the phone. According to the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP), Apricots' liquor permit is still in place. Howard had no comment when we asked about gift cards and scheduled bridal showers, but DCP spokeswoman said Lora Rae Anderson customers should contact the restaurant. "If a business has closed, and consumers have gift cards or event contracts with them, the first step is to contact the business for a gift card refund, or for any compensation agreed to in the terms of their contract. If consumers feel their contract has not been adhered to, they should feel free to file a complaint with us by emailing dcp.complaints@ct.gov. You can always call (860) 713-6300 with questions," Anderson said. The former manager of a Shelton restaurant is accused of sexually harassing employees and touching them inappropriately. Police started the investigation in March 2016 when three female employees of Dees Kitchen at 509 Howe Ave. in Shelton went to police to report that 58-year-old Bryan Stockbridge, of Ansonia, was sexually harassing them and had touched them inappropriately on several occasions. Detectives quickly obtained an arrest warrant, but they could not apprehend him, police said. They then obtained information that Stockbridge fled to California after an interview with detectives. Shelton police obtained information today that Stockbridge was back in Connecticut, living in Ansonia, and they took him into custody. Stockbridge has been charged with three counts of fourth-degree sexual assault. He posted a $5,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Derby Superior Court tomorrow. A 19-year-old man faces attempted murder charges after a shooting in Winsted in January. Connecticut State Police said that on January 19, Rafael Santiago-Salazar shot 37-year-old Melvin Ashe in the chest. Ashe was airlifted to St. Francis Hospital and survived his injuries. Police interviewed several witnesses and identified Santiago-Salazar as the shooter. Santiago-Salazar was located in Maine and on Wednesday, returned to Connecticut. He is charged with criminal attempt to commit murder, first-degree assault, carrying a pistol without a permit, unlawful restraint, reckless endangerment, and threatening. According to the arrest warrant, Santiago-Salazar was involved in drug trafficking between Waterbury and Maine, and the shooting was drug-related. The state House of Representatives and the state Senate have passed a budget. The State Senate overwhelmingly passed a bi-partisan budget just before 2 a.m. Thursday with a vote of 33-3. Then, members of the House passed the budget around 12:45 p.m., with a vote of 126 to 23. Kelly Donnelly, Gov. Dannel P. Malloys director of communications, released a statement saying the governors staff is analyzing the bill and already uncovered egregious problems relating to the hospital tax. Since January, Governor Malloy has been calling on the legislature to take action to adopt a balanced and responsible budget. We recognize that they believe that they have achieved this end and are now sending a budget to him for his consideration and we appreciate their work. At the same time, it is incumbent on the Governor and his administration to carefully review this budget a complete document of nearly 900 pages that was made available only a few minutes before it was called on the floor, Donnelly said in a statement. Unfortunately, our review has already uncovered egregious problems relating to the hospital tax that could put the state budget out of balance by over a billion dollars. Staff will continue to analyze the bill, weighing its merits and faults, so that the Governor can arrive at an informed and carefully considered decision regarding his support. In the two year, $41 billion plan, Hartford would be saved from bankruptcy. It also includes at least $130 million in cuts to the University of Connecticut. "With respect to funding for UConn, this budget is without question an improvement over what was approved in September, which contained a $309 million reduction that would have been catastrophic for the university," UConn Spokesperson Stephanie Reitz said in a statement. "We are very relieved that kind of cut has been avoided. That said, $143 million is still a very significant cut and it will have an impact. We are currently reviewing the document to determine if language contained elsewhere in the budget could result in even deeper cuts to the university than the appropriation number shows," Reitz said. The budget plan also increases the cigarette tax and sets a limit as to who can claim the $200 property tax credit. In addition, legislators voted to raise the cap on the car tax up to 39 mills in the first year and 45 mills the following year. At Wednesday afternoon's General Assembly Finance Committee meeting, a majority of lawmakers voted in favor of adopting the revenue side of the budget deal. "Were hopeful that its a strong signal to the governor that this is the direction the legislature wants to move in," State Rep. Christopher Davis (R) said. Since the start of the month, legislative leaders from both parties held closed-door negotiations without Gov. Dannel Malloy (D) in the room. "Difficult times, but the leadership of all four caucuses stepped up, everybody compromised," Democratic State Senator John Fonfara said. At the Finance Committee meeting, Sen. Len Suzio was one of only two Republican senators who voted against approving the revenue side of the budget. "What theyre seeing is the destruction of their cities and towns by the governors executive order and they feel this is their only choice," he said, "I dont think this is the only choice." Suzio raised concerns with 17 tax and fee increases and told NBC Connecticut he preferred the GOP budget that passed with a few Democratic votes before the governor vetoed it. "This is just more of the same medicine that is destroying our state," he said. Legislative leaders left out some of the taxes proposed during the long budget impasse. "A lot of those taxes that were included in the governors proposal earlier -- like a restaurant tax, increasing the hotel tax, second home tax, cell phone taxes -- those are not included in this and thats important for the public to know," Rep. Davis said. NBC Connecticut has learned there is less money in this budget plan for homeowners with crumbling foundations. Sources said the previously agreed to budget by Democrats and the governor would have created a $110 million pool of money to help fix foundations the current bi-partisan budget takes that number down to $40 million. Saying he still needs time to review the budget documents, Malloy has not yet publically indicated whether he would sign or veto this version of the budget. "Whether I sign this budget or not, I certainly will have had a lot of impact on it," Malloy said Wednesday morning. "Perhaps not as much as might have been optimal but find out where all that pension language Republicans were looking for." Republican House Leader Themis Klarides said Tuesday she hopes this budget will have enough support to override a potential veto by the governor. Members of the House are scheduled to meet for their budget debate and vote at 10 a.m. 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. 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 pair of Georgia teenagers are accused of fashioning a homemade explosive to be used at their high school, NBC News reported. Seventeen-year-olds Alfred Dupree, of Acworth, and Victoria McCurley, of Woodstock, were arrested and face terroristic threats, attempted murder, arson and explosives charges. Investigators are testing materials used in the alleged explosive device found in McCurley's home to determine what was in it, according to the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office. Etowah High School said in a statement to parents that the students face "severe administrative disciplinary actions." It was not immediately clear if either suspect had retained an attorney. Meeting up with your Pixar pals while at Disneyland Resort? It's as easy as traveling to infinity and beyond. Just head to Cars Land in Disney California Adventure to say howdy to Ramone and Mater and Luigi and the other vroom-vroomers of the "Cars" series. Mr. Potato Head holds talkative court at Toy Story Mania, just a short saunter from Cars Land. And might you spy The Green Army Men from "Toy Story" on parade through the Anaheim park? That's a big ol' affirmative. But the Happiest Place on Earth's overall Pixar quotient is about to fly as high as a bunch of balloons attached to a charming house beginning in April 2018. That's when Pixar Fest arrives at Disneyland Resort, for a limited-time run. The "Celebration of Friendship" opens on April 13, 2018, bringing several new events to the resort. Disney Parks Chairman Bob Chapek revealed the coming of the festival at D23 Expo in August 2017, but more details popped up on Thursday, Oct. 26 on Disneyland Resort's social media channels. One main experience sure to draw Pixar fans? "Together Forever A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular," which will take guests "...on an emotional journey that starts when unlikely Pixar characters first meet." Lights, music, and "dazzling pyrotechnics" lend panache to the timeless tales. You won't have to be on Main Street, though, to be a part of this buddy-buddy event; projections beyond the thoroughfare, including at the Rivers of America and it's a small world, will help tell the heart-tuggable tales. And, you bet, Sleeping Beauty Castle will also serve as a large-scale screen. A Pixar Play Parade and Pixar Shorts film festival are also merry components to Pixar Fest. And the "Paint the Night" parade, which already includes several characters from the Pixarverse, will also return on April 13. And shall there be fresh merch? There shall be, with an emphasis on bracelets and charms that highlight the festival's friend-sweet center. Pixar Fest isn't the only news flowering at 1313 Disneyland Drive. Renderings for the new Four Diamond hotel headed for the western end of resort, near the Disneyland Hotel and Monorail stop, were released on Oct. 25, 2017. And as for more Pixar-style goodness? It was announced in the summer of 2017 that Paradise Pier in Disney California Adventure will become Pixar Pier in 2018. A Florida woman is under arrest after police say they found 56 poodles and cockapoos living in squalor at her home. The Ocala Star-Banner reports that 59-year-old Janet Manfredo was charged Tuesday with animal cruelty. Animal control officers removed the dogs from Manfredo's house on Oct. 5 after neighbors complained of a strong odor. An Ocala police officer found the dogs in a room. Manfredo's 3-year-old grandson and 84-year-old father also lived in the house. The child was removed by the Department of Children and Families. Police say some of the dogs were pregnant, and some were puppies. The dogs are being treated by veterinarians. One has died from poor overall health. 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. New York, New Jersey and Connecticut are among the 10 states with the highest cancer rates in the nation, according to data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To identify the rate of cancer in every state, the CDC looked at data from 2014, which is the most recent data available. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, followed only by heart disease, according to the CDC. The probability of being diagnosed with the disease depends on a range of factors and incident rates vary widely between states. New York comes in at No. 5 with 276.5 cancer diagnoses per 100,000 people. The state has the 11th highest number of breast cancer diagnoses and the 10th lowest number of cancer deaths per year, according to the data. with per 100,000 people. The state has the 11th highest number of breast cancer diagnoses and the 10th lowest number of cancer deaths per year, according to the data. New Jersey comes in at No. 7 . The state has 472.8 cancer diagnoses per 100,000 people. Breast cancer diagnoses in New Jersey are the 8th highest in the country and cancer deaths overall are the the 17th lowest. . The state has per 100,000 people. Breast cancer diagnoses in New Jersey are the 8th highest in the country and cancer deaths overall are the the 17th lowest. No. 10. on the list is Connecticut. The state has 467.0 cancer diagnoses per 100,000 people and the second highest number breast cancer diagnoses. Cancer deaths in Connecticut are the eighth lowest in the country, according to the data. Breast cancer was found to be the most commonly diagnosed form of cancer in these states, but lung-related cancer was found to be the most deadly. The report shows no pattern between income levels in a state and cancer diagnosis rates. But rates of mortality do appear to be linked to financial status. In New York state, cancer is now the second leading cause of death, with the highest rates of diagnoses found in residents of four counties, according to the state's Department of Health. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday the state plans to invest $500,000 to study what factors might be behind the higher cancer rates on State Island, Long Island, Warren County and parts of Western New York. "Each year, nearly 110,000 New Yorkers learn they have cancer, and around 35,000 die from the disease," the governor's office said in a statement. "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." The findings from the study are expected within one year. A 21-year-old man from Guatemala has admitted trying to smuggle nearly 7 pounds of heroin through Newark Liberty International Airport by disguising them as single-layer chocolate cakes, authorities say. Jacobo Leonel Orellana-Estrada pleaded guilty in federal court in New Jersey to possession with intent to distribute more than one kilo (2.2 pounds) of the drug, prosecutors said Thursday. According to court documents, Orellana-Estrada flew to Newark from Guatemala City on June 11. Customs officers stopped him for inspection and searched his luggage. In one of his bags, they found what looked like six small single-layer chocolate cakes. Officials say the cakes were actually packages of heroin coated in a thin layer of chocolate and wrapped in paper. The charge to which Orellana-Estrada pleaded guilty carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. He's scheduled to be sentenced in January. The Disney Cruise Line is expanding its San Diego season from March to May 2019, with a variety of cruises to Mexico. Multiple cruises through the Disney Cruise Line currently leave from the Port of San Diego. The extended San Diego season will include cruises going to destinations such as Ensenada, Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan. The Disney Cruise Line will begin booking two-, four-, five- and seven-night voyages on Nov. 2. Cruises from San Diego to Mexico began to fall off around 2010 when Carnival Cruise Lines discontinued its year-round ship to Mexico's Baja California coast, significantly cutting into traffic. In March, Holland America halted port calls to Acapulco "due to recent security concerns." In August, the U.S. State Department revised its travel warning concerning Mexico. The agency reiterated the dangers of traveling in the northern state of Baja California, which includes Cabo San Lucas, Tijuana, Rosarito, Ensenada, Tecate and Mexicali, and advised citizens to exercise caution. As fall wildfires wreak havoc across California, the state's flood management authorities are gearing up for the challenges of a wet winter. Flooding has the potential to cause even greater damage, and hazardous mudslides could follow rainstorms in the wake of brush fires. Widespread burn areas and so-called "watersheds" are particularly susceptible to mudslides. Despite looking shallow, flooded roadways can easily pose an unexpected danger to drivers. The exact depth of the water and whether it's safe to drive across can be difficult to predict. "It only takes about six inches of water to knock you off your feet and not much more, a foot or two of water to float a car and carry it downstream, warned Mark Seits, who serves on the board of the Floodplain Management Association (FMA). And we've all seen the news reports, all seen the footage of folks that have been in that situation, standing on the tops of the car." Flood management directors said they expect vegetation to be well re-established in areas burned in the regional wildfires of 2003 and 2007. But that does not include areas burned by the wildfires of 2014. If this winter's rainy season loosens a lot of soil and brush, that could create a recipe for flood hazards. High-category hurricanes are better known in Gulf Coast areas, but there have been heavy downpours in the San Diego region that could generate vast new floodplains. A few years ago, there was a so-called "thousand-year rainfall event" in the Ramona area. "Just a tremendous amount of rain fell in a very short period of time, said Sara Agahi, the flood control manager for the countys Department of Public Works. And of course when rain falls in high places, it has to get to low places. And if your house or your business is in between that, the water's going to pass you." Wednesday marks the midpoint of "Flood Preparedness Week" in California. State authorities advise the public to go online to check out the fema.gov website. Visit the ReadySanDiego.org app to download all kinds of disaster prevention alerts and safety information. When you look out across the rolling hills of Rock Creek Cemetery, you find a resting place filled with beauty, sculptures and a significant piece of Washington DC history. Over the years, the grounds have attracted people of all faiths, races, and backgrounds. "We have four Supreme Court justices here. We have a signer of the Constitution here," said Jim Jones, who sits on the finance committee for St. Paul's Rock Creek Church, which runs the cemetery. "This is the most historic cemetery in the city. And we want to be here. We've been here since 1712." But the cemetery's future is in jeopardy because it can't pay its $200,000-a-year water bill, Jones said. That bill used to be about $3,500 per year. Rock Creek Cemetery "Our actual water usage is declining, incidentally. But the actual water bill is still climbing," said Jones. "It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever." It's because of the Clean Rivers IAC, which stands for Impervious Area Charge. It's a fee DC Water charges based on estimated stormwater runoff for each property. Roadways, parking spaces and rooftops of buildings all generate increased fees. In the cemetery's case, DC Water is also counting the surface area of the mausoleums on the property. "It was a real shock and a surprise," said Jones. "Most of these mausoleums were constructed as places for people's loved ones 150, 200 years ago. There's no way we go back and recapture that. And to, in effect, be punished for that, it's a bit much." Rock Creek Cemetery is paying nearly $15,000 a month for the IAC fee, which accounts for about 80 percent of the cemetery's total water bill. The News4 I-Team spent months requesting records from DC Water, matching up properties and calculating how much each has to pay, and found D.C.'s cemeteries have already paid millions toward funding the District's multi-billion dollar Clean Rivers project, construction of underground tunnels to keep sewage and stormwater from flooding our rivers. The federal government mandated D.C. do something to solve its overflow issues, and DC Water opted to embark on the Clean Rivers project in 2009. It's the most expensive public works project in Washington, D.C., since Metro was built. "It just seems patently unfair that the heaviest burden appears to be placed in a place thats actually supporting the city in its work to serve the community," said Craig Muckle, public policy manager for the Archdiocese of Washington. Cemeteries and churches are especially hard hit, Muckle added, because they have to have parking areas. Some larger cemeteries also have roads to get to their gravesites. It all factors into that IAC fee. But the I-Team found DC Water does not make the District pay for its public roadways; those are exempt. "If its good for the goose, its good for the gander," said Muckle. D.C. government does pay millions each year for its buildings and parking lots, and so does the federal government. The fee even allows DC Water to charge customers who don't get a regular water bill but do cause stormwater runoff, like commercial parking lots. Cemeteries are different, Jones said. "We're not a commercial parking lot or the evil chemical company incorporated; we're a green space!" Rock Creek Cemetery even spent $100,000 ripping out some of its roadways and planting grass instead, Jones said. But when it appealed to DC Water, an inspector came out and noticed more impervious area, so the monthly IAC fees went up. Rock Creek Cemetery "We were absolutely dumbfounded," said Jones. "We have the largest variety of trees outside of the arboretum here in Washington, D.C." The National Arboretum is a 400-acre sanctuary of public green space which pays nearly $400,000 a year in IAC fees, even though it isn't hooked to a storm drain and re-uses its stormwater run-off to water the plants. The News4 I-Team asked the head of DC Water, George Hawkins, whether the cemeteries and arboretum have a valid argument to avoid the growing fees. "It's an argument that has a point to it," replied Hawkins, adding that if bills are lowered for high-dollar customers like cemeteries and the arboretum, the rest of the city's customers would have to make up the difference, because that massive tunnel project isn't getting any cheaper. "We're going to evaluate various options of what we could or should do just on this basis. What is the cost of it?" said Hawkins, vowing that the water board will take a look at the issue, but probably not until sometime in 2018. "I think there needs to be a whole rethinking of how revenue for this project is derived," said Jones. "And there ought to be at least a cap or an exemption for historic places." Other cities, like Baltimore, have already exempted cemetery streets from stormwater fees and offer a hardship exemption for non-profits who can't pay. Jones said the cemeteries won't be able to pay anything if they're all out of business. "I think over time many operators are going to be simply left with no other choice than to close their gates and walk away," said Jones. "And I think for an institution like Rock Creek Cemetery ... that is just unthinkable." Reported by Jodie Fleischer, produced by Rick Yarborough, and shot and edited by Steve Jones. A Virginia father and his two young sons have come up with a way to honor their mother, who recently died of an aggressive form of cancer. Melissa Dabas was diagnosed with breast cancer in April, 2016. In February, it appeared that she had beaten the illness. To celebrate her victory, Melissa purchased 26 tickets to Lady Gaga's D.C. concert to give to family, friends, nurses and doctors who helped her throughout the journey. But unfortunately, the cancer returned. Melissa lost her 17-month battle on Sept. 2. She was 42. Her husband, Jay Dabas, said he wanted to find a way to honor her memory. "I started to see the world a little bit though her eyes, and how she would see people and how she would reach out to people, he said. Jay decided to donate some of the box tickets to the Winchester Medical Center, where he is an anesthesiologist. They are raffling them off to establish the Melissa Anne Dabas Trust, which will help cancer patients with non-medical expenses. The kids and I thought this would be a great way to honor her and keep her memory alive to create a fund that could help people in the future," he said. Jay said he is taking their two sons to the Lady Gaga concert at the Capitol One Arena on Nov. 19. Though Melissa may not physically be in attendance, Jay said she will be with them in spirit. Raffle tickets can be purchased here, or by calling 540-536-4736. The lottery will close on Nov. 12, and winners will be drawn on Nov. 14. Five winners will be selected to win two box seats, valued at $1,500. Raffle tickets cost $100 each. Puerto Rico's continued struggles after Hurricane Maria include the rise of waterborne illnesses, which health professionals fear may grow to become an epidemic, NBC News reported. Two of the most recent deaths came from leptospirosis, a bacterial disease that's usually spread through contaminated water, a health official told The Associated Pres, and 74 suspected cases of infection are being investigated. The rare disease, treated with antibiotics, is transmitted through the urine of infected animals, but humans are usually infected by coming in contact with infected water. One in four people on the island still didn't have access to running water by Wednesday. "It's like a perfect storm for leptospirosis, people are going to get sick and suffer," said nurse Llamara Padro-Milano, who came back from a relief trip to the island last week. She said nurses were encountering cases of pink eye as well. Police in Rhode Island are searching for two people who broke into a home and beat a man and his mother in a violent home invasion. According to WJAR, the incident happened shortly before midnight Wednesday on Grafton Street in Lincoln. The suspects, who have no descriptions, broke in through the first-floor window, police said. They then woke up the 32-year-old man and proceeded to pistol whip him in the face. The mans 67-year-old mother was also beaten in the face. A 2-year-old child who was also in the home was not injured. All three were taken to a hospital. The suspects ransacked the home, but its unclear if anything was stolen. They then fled in a silver or gray SUV. Police believe the home was targeted. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 401-333-1111. A well-known restaurant owner in New Hampshire is back home after spending almost two weeks cooking for residents and volunteers in Puerto Rico. Alex Ray owns the nearly 20 Common Man family of restaurants across New Hampshire. After Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico, he knew the people there could use his expertise. The kitchen was unfamiliar. The language was different. However, the experience was eye opening. "Theres an old saying that I cried because I had no shoes, until I met a man with no feet," Ray told NBC Boston. "And thats how I felt." Last month, he was looking forward to a vacation he had booked with friends. "I had planned a trip to Italy," Ray said. But when Maria decimated Puerto Rico, he couldnt bear the thought of traveling for pleasure when he knew he could be helping. "So I bagged the trip to Italy and landed on (Sept.) 13th in San Juan," Ray said. He cooked from sunup to sundown for almost two weeks. He ran two kitchens, organized volunteer cooks, and opened up a third kitchen while he was there. "You have to have a 'can-do' attitude, and everybody had it," Ray said. He witnessed that positivity as he delivered meals to coastal towns that had been wiped out by the storm surge from families who had lost everything. "They thanked us, they were glad, everyone was working together," Ray said. In the mountain communities, he said there was only one way to deliver food. "They dropped it in by helicopter," he said. Ray returned home this week with a new perspective, some new friends, and a promise to the people of Puerto Rico. "Well be back," he said. Ray says while Puerto Rico continues to cleanup, the restaurants there remain closed, so the cooks are out of work. Hes planning to fly some of them to New Hampshire to work and earn money in his restaurants. In the meantime, he said the Common Man Restaurants will continue to collect donations for Puerto Rico that will be strategically distributed the next time he goes to the island. To see more videos from the cleanup in Puerto Rico, follow @elplatocalientepr on Twitter and Facebook. 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. Recovery Friendly Church supporting each other John Myhill has been finding out about the concept of Recovery Friendly Church and what it has to offer a broken world. I was privileged recently to spend some time at St Matthews church, Thorpe Hamlet; where the vicar, Rev Patrick Jordan, was explaining to a small group of us about Recovery Friendly Church. This is a wonderful way of bringing your congregation into harmonious compassion for each other and for those in the surrounding community, and I would recommend your church leaders to arrange a discussion session with this healing priest. It sometimes seems a long way from the sure and certain hope of the Resurrection (of the funeral service) to the lived experience of the eternal wonder of every moment; but these are just two aspects of the Hope that Christianity can offer to those undergoing distress. We are all recovering sinners, forgiven through Grace, filled with the earnest desire to support others who may be going through a hard time. So much can be achieved when people accept their brokenness and assume others are equally broken and can thus support each other. This Recovery model wisely keeps away from finding out about diagnosis and treatment, to avoid becoming para-professionals, retaining their shared life experience to respond as friends. Christians can achieve so much, by assuming that those around them are not mad or bad or even unpleasant, but in fact in need of faith, hope and love. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Recovery Friendly Church is a network of Churches committed to supporting good mental health and wellbeing in our churches and communities. It works with the Recovery model and recognises the unique contribution Churches can make to supporting people in their recovery. Recovery is seen as the process that enables someone struggling with mental health issues to engage with life on their terms. It may mean learning to live with symptoms or finding ways of managing them. For some people faith will be an important part of that Recovery. We are not professionals and cannot replace professional services, but we can offer something different. Places of friendship and support that value and empower everyone regardless of their mental health or well-being issues. For more information visit Patrick Jordans blog on his church website . Nets blessed and herrings eaten at Yarmouth Minster 2017: A large all-age congregation gathered on Sunday October 15 for a special service in Great Yarmouth Minster to celebrate the medieval tradition of Blessing the Nets of the fishermen of the town before they went to sea. The Minster was artistically decorated with hanging fishing nets, giving it a quayside feel and fuelling the imagination with memories of the hundreds of fishing boats once moored along the quay on the River Yare. The Revd Jemma Sander-Heys opened the service with a warm welcome to all and gave the Bidding Prayer. All then sang that great seafarers hymn Eternal Father Strong to Save. During the service Sandra McCullagh read some seafaring poems and a brief history of the towns fishing industry was presented by Henry Cator, then Ernie Childs focussed on the human cost of fishing in a reflection called The Dangers of Fishing in the North Sea. Following gospel readings, Revd Grant Bolton-Debbage gave a thought provoking and apt homily on the presence and protection of God in the lives of the first disciples, who of course were fishermen, and on the ongoing protection of God in our lives and our need to seek out Christ for direction. Children from Great Yarmouth schools once again played a central role in the service with sea shanty and a harvest thanksgiving song that remembered the fruits of the sea sung by local school choirs. During the hymn Will your Anchor Hold the children from both schools carried the long procession of nets up the centre aisle, and into to the sanctuary, where they were received and blessed. Prayers were then said for all fishermen. Following the final blessing all were invited to share fellowship and a Herring Supper together and the childrens choirs were provided with free fish fingers. Thanks to Michael Cole who supplied and gutted the herrings, and Mark Dixon at the Kings Arms in Fleggburgh for cooking them. For the full story, plus pictures, visit Network Yarmouth , where this article first appeared. The picture of Yarmouth Minster is courtesy of http://www.norfolkchurches.co.uk Do you have a news story or forthcoming event relating to Christians or a church in East Norfolk? 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. Lab Diagnostics & Automation eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today 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. 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. Genetics & Genomics eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today "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. 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. Genetics & Genomics eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today 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. Just like how alphabets are strung together to form words, our DNA is also strung together by alphabets to encode proteins. Our DNA contains only 4 natural genetic alphabets - A, C, G and T, which hold the blueprint for the production of proteins that make our bodies work. Now, researchers from the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN) of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) have created a DNA technology with two new genetic alphabets that could better detect infectious diseases, such as dengue and Zika. IBN researchers Dr Ichiro Hirao and Dr Michiko Kimoto holding up a jigsaw puzzle inspired model of their new genetic alphabets Ds and Px, which can pair up to form the third DNA base pair. Genetic alphabet expansion technology is the introduction of artificial base pairs into DNA. The existing four genetic alphabets are naturally bound together in base pairs of A-T and G-C. These specific base pair formations are essential in DNA replication, which occurs in all living organisms. It is the process by which a DNA molecule is duplicated to produce two identical molecules. The expansion of the genetic alphabet is a significant scientific achievement. It sheds insights into DNAs natural replication mechanism, which will help us to design unique DNA molecules and technologies. For example, our technology can be used to create novel diagnostics and therapeutic agents with superior efficacy, said IBN Executive Director Professor Jackie Y. Ying. Genetics & Genomics eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today In 2009, IBN Team Leader and Principal Research Scientist Dr Ichiro Hirao and IBN Senior Research Scientist Dr Michiko Kimoto created two new genetic alphabets Ds and Px, which specifically combine with each other to form an artificial base pair that could function as a third DNA base pair. However, the molecular structure of the new base pair had never been determined until they collaborated recently with Professor Andrea Marx from the University of Konstanz in Germany on the structural analysis of their new base pair. Using X-ray crystallography, the researchers uncovered the 3D molecular structure of the Ds-Px base pair during DNA replication by analyzing the X-ray diffraction through a crystal. They found that the structure of the new artificial base pair was strikingly similar to a natural base pair. Dr Hirao said: The inspiration for the design of our new DNA base pair came from jigsaw puzzles, where complementary shapes fit together to form the specific pair. However, our concept had only been a hypothesis until now. We did not know the actual molecular structure of our Ds-Px pair during DNA replication until the recent study with our collaborators at University of Konstanz. They confirmed that we are heading in the right direction, which would allow us to create biological components that can enhance DNAs natural functions. Using this genetic alphabet expansion technology, IBN is developing DNA aptamers, which are modified DNA molecules that can bind to molecular targets in the body. The team plans to launch a test kit using these DNA aptamers to detect infectious diseases, such as dengue and Zika, in the next two years. A study from the Georgia Institute of Technology indicates that a wandering mind is not a bad thing. It might be an indication that a person is creative and smart. Credit: Natalie Board / Shutterstock.com Eric Schumacher, the Georgia Tech associate psychology professor and co-author of the study stated: "People with efficient brains may have too much brain capacity to stop their minds from wandering," Schumacher and his team of researchers, including Christine Godwin, lead co-author of the study, evaluated the brain patterns of over 100 people using MRI. Participants were asked to pay attention on a stationary fixed point for five minutes. Godwin, a Georgia Tech psychology Ph.D. candidate stated that the correlated regions of the brain provided an understanding about the brain regions that work together during a resting, awake state. Interestingly, research has indicated that similar brain patterns, to those found in a resting state are associated with various other cognitive capabilities. Researchers compared the reports with trials that evaluated the creativity and intellectual ability of the participants, after determining how the brain works together at rest. Participants were also asked to fill out a questionnaire about how much their mind deviated in daily life. Participants who reported more frequent daydreaming scored higher on creativity and intellectual ability and were found to have more effective brain systems measured with the MRI. Schumacher suggests that the higher efficiency signifies more thinking capacity, and the brain may daydream while completing easy tasks. One easy way to tell if a persons brain is efficient, is if the person can zone in and out of tasks or conversations when appropriate, then innately tune back in without missing significant steps or points. Godwin and Schumacher suggest that the findings of the study will help researchers to further understand when day dreaming is risky, and when it may essentially be useful. Godwin indicated that there are also some significant distinct differences to consider, like a person's intent or motivation to stay attentive on a specific task. A Norwegian study shows that general practitioners in Norway show little competency in understanding different cultures. Researcher Esperanza Diaz at the University of Bergen asks for mandatory training. A study conducted at the Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care (IGS), University of Bergen (UiB), concluded that Norwegian family doctors show little cultural competency when dealing with patients from an immigrant background. "We need a new strategy on immigrant health, which should include an obligatory component in medical training in cultural competency," says Associate Professor Esperanza Diaz, at IGS. She is co-author on the study. Need reflection on cultural differences The researchers studied a group of general practitioners that were either training to become specialists or were already specialists. The study participants were asked questions about what kind of strategies they used in meetings with patients from immigrant backgrounds. The doctors responded that they treated these patients similarly to patients without immigrant backgrounds. In follow-up discussions, the participating doctors recognised that they had experienced cultural differences between the different patient groups. "We discovered that there Norwegian doctors engage in relatively little reflection about cultural differences and the potential impact of such differences. It is as though they think they, themselves, represent the normal zero point, and this concerns us," Diaz says. Need training in cultural competency in medical education Diaz underlines that cultural competency should be a part of the medical education curriculum. "Today, cultural competency depends on medical students taking personal initiatives, such as by joining special courses or engaging in voluntary activities. Cultural competency should be part of the ordinary medical education curriculum," says Esperanza Diaz. Who is Mister Terrific and what are his powers? Michael Holt AKA Mister Terrific is a mainstay of the Justice Society and he could be coming to the DCEU Country United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British 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Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Two brothers, Jamil and Ammar, fled Syria in 2012, with their wives and children. After four years waiting in Jordan, they finally received a visa and traveled to the United States as refugees. They arrived on Nov. 8, 2016, which happened to be Election Day. It was, of course, a loaded moment. In effect, the brothers and their families landed in one country and woke up the next morning in another. Since then, I have been reporting their stories and creating a true comic about their lives in America. I went to their mosques, schools and job-training programs. I was also there when Ammars family received a frightening death threat, which ultimately forced them to flee their town. Today the illustrator, Michael Sloan, and I bring you the final installment in their story. Jake Halpern part 1 Landing In America Part 2 A Refugee Familys First Days part 3 Theyre Safe in America. Now What? part 4 Where Are All the Other Muslims? part 5 Should We Stay or Should We Go? part 6 People Will Stare. We Cant Possibly Fit In. Part 7 First Day of School. Try Not to Stand Out. Part 8 Most Kids Dont Know Where Syria Is Part 9 You Dont Need English To Wash Dishes, Right? Part 10 A Caller Threatens To Kill Ammars Family Part 11 After a Threat, the F.B.I. Comes to Call Part 12 America Doesnt Feel Safe Anymore Part 13 How Many Dishes Can There Be To Wash? Part 14 My Time Is Past. Its Your Chance Now. Part 15 House Hunting with No Credit, No Job History Part 16 Trumps Travel Ban Means Hope for Ammars Family Part 17 Three Muslim Refugees at a Jewish Day Camp Part 18 A Driving Lesson. An Art Show. A Start. Part 19 Do Americans Want Everything Vegan? Part 20 7th Pay Commission: 2,000 doctors will work without food in protest India oi-Vicky Doctors will stay hungry to protest the improper implementation of the 7th Pay Commission. Over 2,000 resident doctors of the AIIMS will work without food from today onwards. The resident doctors who had on Tuesday 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 responsible citizens and doctors 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 Pay Commission 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 in November, 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 Pay Commission would help them to carry out their work related to patient care with more zeal and enthusiasm. OneIndia News Circular The circular, however, reads that the general instruction for all private unaided schools, irrespective of their land status, is that, a fee hike is "not mandatory" for recognised unaided schools in Delhi. "All schools must, first of all, explore the possibility of utilising the existing reserves to meet any shortfall in payment of salaries and allowances, as a consequence of increase in the salaries and allowances of employees," it reads. Two categories The Delhi government circular defines two categories of such schools. One running either on private land or on DDA/Land and Development Office (L&DO) allotted land, but not having a condition to seek prior sanction of the Director (Education), and the other running on land allotted by the DDA/government land-owning agencies having condition to seek prior sanction of the Director (Education), before any fee hike. Must comply "Schools in Delhi have to comply with the pay panel's recommendations, which ask for a nearly 25% increase in salaries of schoolteachers. The arrears will need to be paid with 7.5% of tuition fees of students, while the new salaries will be funded by the 15% fee hike, with effect from 1 July 2017," the circular reads. Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta said the city government by permitting 15% interim fee hike in private schools has "once again opened a Pandora's box of harassment and trouble for parents". In a statement, Gupta, also the president of the Delhi Abhibhavak Mahasangh, alleged, with this order, the government has "paved the way for earning of money by school management and exploitation of teachers and staff". "As this is an interim order issued arbitrarily by the government, it contains large number of defects and infirmities which has the potential for unending legal battle," the senior BJP leader said. Insisting that the government "must review its decision" in the larger public interest, he alleged the government has "arbitrarily increased the fee without taking into account whether reserve funds are available with schools". No further extension on 7th Pay Commission The circular, says, "In order to avoid any further delay in giving benefits of the 7th Pay Commission to teachers and other employees, and to ensure that the burden of payment of arrears does not accumulate on the parents due to further delay in extension of the pay panel to the employees, an interim fee increase subject to following upper limits, is permitted to the school." It, however, adds, the interim increase is to be "levied only if it is felt that in case of schools not having sufficient reserves or accumulated funds available from any other source", in accordance with the clauses mentioned in it. Besides, the fee hike would be subject to scrutiny in the records of the school if the need arises, to see as to whether there was any necessity to increase the fee having regard to the financial position of the said schools, the circular states. It also states that "the managing committee of the school shall hold a meeting with the group of teachers and parents which would include at least one parent representative from each section of the school and will present the detailed budget of the school". 7th Pay Commission: Latest update on Cabinet secy meet, NPS, minimum wage formula India oi-Vicky By Vicky The Secretary NC JCM Staff Side, Shivgopal Mishra met with the Cabinet Secretary and expressed anguish that the 7th Pay Commission had not done justice to the Central Government employees. He also expressed anguish over the inordinate delay in finalising the demands particularly on National Pension System (NPS), Minimum Wage and Fitment Formula. The Cabinet Secretary said that, he is aware of the problems of the Staff Side(JCM) raised by them from time to time and particularly to this issue and will definitely try to resolve them. Particularly on the issue of National Pension System(NPS) he said that the issue active consideration of the Government of India and we are trying to find out some solution to the problems arisen because of the NPS. Mishra also persuaded him to fix-up date of the meeting of the National Council(JCM), to which he said that, the agenda came, and some queries have been raised, which are still to be compiled by the DoP&T. He assured that, he will definitely fix-up the date of the meeting within a short period, and said that, before that, he will ask the Secretary (DoP&T) to hold meeting with the Staff Side. He told to the Cabinet Secretary that, Central Government Employees are agitated because they feel that 7th Pay Commission has not done and justice with them and government is also ready to remove the issues pending before them. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, October 26, 2017, 11:23 [IST] Centre knocks SC door on CAPF withdrawal from Hills of North Bengal India oi-Amitava By Amitava Following the Calcutta High Court's order staying the withdrawal of Central Armed Police Force (CAPD) from the Darjeeling and Kalimpong Hills, the Union Government has moved the Supreme Court. On Wednesday the Union Government moved the Apex Court against the Calcutta High Court order. Incidentally the Central Government had earlier ordered the withdrawal of 10 companies of CAPF out of the 15 presently deployed in the Hills of Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts of North Bengal. On October 17 the Calcutta High Court had stayed this asking both the Centre and the West Bengal Government to file affidavits. The next date of hearing is on October 27. The State Government had written to the Centre to extend the deployment of troops till December 25, which however the Union Government had denied. 10 out of 15 companies of Central Armed Police Force to be withdrawn from Darjeeling and Kalimpong An Apex Court bench comprising of Justice J Chelameswar and Justice S Abdul Nazeer agreed to hear the Union Government on October 27. Appearing on behalf of the Union Government, Advocate Wasim Quadri prayed that the CAPF be allowed to be withdrawn from Darjeeling and Kalimpong to be deployed in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat for the forthcoming elections scheduled to be held in November and December respectively and also in the border areas. The Central Government appeal claimed that situation was better in the Hills of North Bengal following the withdrawal of the 104 day long bandh on September 2. The further stated that this is backed by findings of different agencies. The Centre further wanted to know from the Supreme Court if the High Court could act an appellate court and exercise its power of judicial review in matters affecting policy which requires technical expertise. Following the tug of war over the CAPF between the Centre and the West Bengal Government, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had The Home Ministry asked state governments to set up a panel for examining requirements of central forces keeping in view the internal security situation. The Home Ministry on October 18 had stated that standard operating procedures (SOPs) had been formulated for deployment of CAPFs. "CAPFs can't substitute the state police force as their deployment is related to emergency crisis in states for maintaining law and order," stated the Home Ministry communication. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, October 26, 2017, 12:27 [IST] Congress to launch 'Janaakrosh Aandolan' against Maharashtra govt from Oct 31 India oi-PTI Mumbai, October 26: To highlight BJP government's 'failures' in the last three years, the Congress in Maharashtra will launch a 'Janaakrosh Aandolan' from October 31. The agitation would begin from October 31, the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Maharashtra Congress chief Ashok Chavan said today. "The government's performance in the last three years has been disappointing. There is tremendous resentment among people due to the wrong decisions of this government," he alleged. "The Congress will launch the 'Janaakrosh Aandolan' from October 31 to highlight the failures of this government," Chavan told reporters here. The statewide protest will commence from Ahmednagar district, said the Lok Sabha member from Nanded. "Demonetisation has caused immense economic loss to the nation and has troubled people immensely. As a mark of protest, November 8 will be observed as a black day," he said. The state government has indulged in the "jugglery of figures" to provide as little financial assistance as possible to farmers under the loan waiver scheme, the former state chief minister alleged. Difficult conditions were deliberately added (in the loan waiver scheme) to exclude a large number of farmers, he further charged. Leader of Opposition in the state Legislative Assembly, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, who was also present at the press briefing, alleged that the government changed the conditions for the loan waiver time and again by issuing new Government Resolutions (GRs) almost every other day. Vikhe Patil said,"The government does not know the nuances of (running the) administration. They should step back. The Shiv Sena should immediately withdraw support (from the government) as well." PTI For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, October 26, 2017, 16:38 [IST] 'Kantara' box office: Even as Bollywood's Akshays and Ajays struggle, this one hits Rs 75-crore mark Fake stamp paper kingpin Abdul Karim Telgi dead India oi-Vicky By Vicky The kingpin of the fake stamp paper racket, Abdul Karim Telgi passed away at a hospital in Bengaluru. He had been admitted in a critical condition at the Victoria hospital. He passed away due to multiple organ failure. He was suffering from brain fever since the past several days. M T Nanaiah, the advocate who has represented Telgi in the case informed OneIndia that the jail authorities had delayed admitting him to hospital. He arrived at the hospital in a critical condition and was kept on ventilator support for the past week. Telgi was arrested several years back in connection with the multi crore fake stamp paper racket. He was convicted in several cases of counterfeiting. Telgi's mother was Shariefabee Ladsaab Telgi, and his father was an employee of Indian Railways. His father died while he was young. Telgi paid for his own education at Sarvodaya Vidyalaya Khanapur, an English medium school, by selling fruit and vegetables on trains. Eventually, he moved to Saudi Arabia. Seven years later, he returned to India, at which time he began a career in counterfeiting, originally focusing on fake passports. Telgi moved to more complex counterfeiting when he began to counterfeit stamp paper. He appointed 350 people as agents who sold the fakes to bulk purchasers, including banks, insurance companies, and stock brokerage firms. The size of the scam was estimated to be more than Rs 200 billion (US$3.1 billion). One aspect of the scandal that caused much concern was that it required the involvement of many police officers and other government employees. On 17 January 2006, Telgi and several associates were sentenced to 30 years rigorous imprisonment. On 28 June 2007, Telgi was sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for 13 years for another aspect of the scandal. He was also fined Rs 10 billion (US$160 million). The Income Tax Department requested that Telgi's property be confiscated to pay the fine. He had been in jail for 13 years. Mudrank (The Stamp) was a film based on the stamp scandal. It was finished in 2008, but Telgi filed legal challenges to prevent its release. Telgi alleged that the details covered in the film would damage his legal appeals. OneIndia News Ganapathy case: BJP demands removal of KJ George immediately India oi-Deepika By Deepika The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president, BS Yeddyurappa on Thursday demanded that Karnataka minister K J George should immediately be removed from the cabinet after he was booked by CBI in connection with Dy SP Ganapathy case. Yeddyurappa warned of launching a statewide agitation if George is not removed immediately from the Cabinet. He alleged that George's presence in the state government will make fair probe difficult. The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a suicide abetment case against Karnataka Minister KJ George in connection with suicide of Deputy Superintendent of Police M K Ganapathy. George said that the CBI has filed the FIR based on the old complaint. He said he would only react after getting full details of the FIR on Friday. "Let them investigate. They're supposed to finish it in 3 months. Let them give a report. After that, I will react." On the demand for his resignation, he said this is not the first time that BS Yedurappa or BJP leaders have asked for his resignation. "A 100 times they have asked. Earlier, I resigned over the same case. Only after the report cleared me was I taken back into the cabinet. Let a thorough investigation happen now. We will react after that." Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also dismissed the demands of George's resignation and cited Yeddyurappa's case. "An FIR was also filed against Yeddyurappa. Did he resign?" he asked. Mangaluru Dy SP Ganapathy had committed suicide on July 7, 2016 and in a video message named KJ George, AM Prasad and Pranab Mohanty responsible for his extreme step. The opposition, both BJP and JDS, held massive protests against KJ George and made sure he resigned from the ministerial post. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, October 26, 2017, 22:40 [IST] How to link Aadhaar with mobile online India oi-Vicky By Vicky Recommended Video How to Link Aadhar card with your Mobile sim, here are 3 simple ways | Oneindia News Linking Aadhaar with mobile is a cumbersome process as you have to visit the store. However there is good news as the Department of Telecommunications introduced three new methods to link Aadhaar with mobile. The are OTP based, App based and the IVRS facility. These new methods will help subscribers to get their mobile number linked to Aadhaar without visiting the stores. To make the re-verification process easier for senior citizens and the people with disability and chronic illness, the DoT has recommended the telecom companies to complete the verification process at subscribers' doorstep. It has asked the telecom companies to provide an online mechanism for people to request such service and based on availability schedule the visit and complete the process. Communication Minister for State Manoj Sinha said: "The Aadhaar number system was designed to allow all residents of the country access to critical government services and important information that they may need from time to time. Mobile penetration is increasing rapidly in the country and the subscribers need to be provided with the ease of linking of the Aadhaar number with the mobile number." Linking Aadhaar with mobile? Govt likely to allow other ID proofs as well This year in August, the DoT had given instructions to the telecom service providers to provide iris or fingerprint based authentication of Aadhaar. "The new regulations have specified that the telecom service providers must deploy iris readers for this purpose within a reasonable geographical area," the department said. 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, the person in the know added. 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 agent's device, the official said. In the current dispensation, e-KYC data of the subscriber including photograph is visible to the agent of the telecom operator. The slew of measures being undertaken are aimed at improving ease of re-verification and its success rate, the official added. The official pointed out that some residents, especially senior citizens, found it difficult to verify their identity using fingerprint-based Aadhaar authentication. Also, there were cases where residents - those bed ridden, ill or physically challenged - were unable to visit the service points of telecom service providers. Telecom operators have also been directed to deploy iris devices at "appropriate number of service points" so subscribers have access to iris authentication "within a reasonable geographical distance". This will be useful for people who face problem with fingerprint authentication, owing to poor fingerprint quality, disability or old age, the official explained. Aadhaar-based e-KYC is essential for subscribers going for new SIMs. Further, the government has asked mobile operators to re-verify existing prepaid and postpaid customers, with the help of the 12-digit unique identity number. The re-verification exercise is scheduled to be completed by early 2018. The Indian telecom market with subscriber base of over a billion is second-largest in the world after China. OneIndia News I got money to fuel the unrest, Salahuddins son tells NIA India oi-Vicky By Vicky Globally proscribed terrorist Syed Salahuddin's son arrested by the National Investigation Agency has said that he had got funds to stoke the unrest in the Valley. Syed Shahid Yousuf was arrested by the NIA on charges that he had received funds to create unrest in the Kashmir Valley. Yousuf who has been sent to seven days NIA custody has also revealed the names of several other Hizbul Mujahideen members who were part of this racket. He said that he was in touch with one Aijaz Bhat from Pakistan. He also said that the money was being sent to him on the instructions of his father Salauddin. With several names cropping up, the NIA is now verifying the claims made by Yousuf. Further the NIA has learnt that Yousuf was given money transfer codes by Bhat. He used these codes to collect the money and pass it on those people who would create violence on the streets of the Valley. The case relates to the one registered by the NIA in April 2011. The NIA had said that there was money transfer taking place through hawala channels from Pakistan via Delhi and then to Jammu and Kashmir. Based on the instructions of his father, Yousuf played a key role in this racket, the NIA also said. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, October 26, 2017, 11:29 [IST] Morphed image of Chhatrapati Shivaji being shared as that of Tipu Sultan If Tipu developed the missile, why didnt he fire them? India oi-Vicky By Vicky If Tipu was the pioneer of missile technology, then why didn't he fire them? This was a poser by BJP MP, Prathap Simha in response to the valour certificate given by President of India, Ram Nath Kovind. Kovind said at a function in Bengaluru that Tipu was a pioneer in the development of the rocket and a fighter who died a glorious death. 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. This did not go down well with the BJP and its leaders also alleged that the speech was scripted by the ruling Congress in the state. BJP MP, Prathap Simha took to Twitter and posed a couple of questions. "Respected @rashtrapatibhvn ji, if Tipu was d pioneer of missile technology, y did he lose 3rd n 4th Anglo-Mysore war? Y didn't he fire them?" He also said "Tipu Died A Hero, Pres Says. Sir, Heroes fight n die in battlefield, Timid Tipu died inside d fort without fighting," Simha also wrote on Twitter. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, October 26, 2017, 6:50 [IST] Is Kamal Haasan making his political debut on his birthday, Nov 7? India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Chennai, Oct 26: If reports are to be believed, the 63rd birthday of Tamil superstar Kamal Haasan is going to a 'political blockbuster', literally. Haasan, whose birthday is on November 7, is likely to formally join politics on his 'big' day, as indicated by the national-award winning actor-director himself in a column he wrote for a popular Tamil magazine on Thursday. In the column, the Tamil superstar has promised a big announcement on his birthday, asking his fans to "get ready". The Viswaroopam actor, who in the last few months have spoken about his political debut in Tamil Nadu, wrote in the column that he would "give details of arrangements soon and will ensure that fans can coordinate" with his team and him. "I invite with folded hands those who think it's their responsibility to serve Tamil Nadu," Haasan said. These lines in the column are enough to suggest that he is finally ready to take the political plunge. Now, the question is will the actor float his own party or join an already established party? Political observers say that Haasan in all probability will float his own political outfit with the help of his fans and supporters. Since July, the 62-year-old veteran actor has been maintaining that he's ready to form his own political party. In fact, last month, he said he will recruit "fresh, young faces" in his party. For his political party, Haasan indicated that he would crowd-source funds to ensure transparency. He said all these methods of operating his party have been inspired by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of Arvind Kejriwal. A few weeks ago, Haasan met Kejriwal in Chennai and the two had lunch together. Now, people of Tamil Nadu are also wondering when superstar Rajinikanth would join politics, which too is long overdue. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, October 26, 2017, 12:54 [IST] Before it even aired amid CBS well-established slate of lowest- common- denominator sitcoms and grandma-friendly crime procedurals, trailers for Wisdom of the Crowd put it in the running for the dumbest show of the fall. Since then, airings of the actual show have soundly confirmed the suspicion. For years Idiot Box has groused about the dogged unwillingness of Hollywood writers to understand how crimes are solved in the real world. Unable to do the legwork (so to speak), TV writers simply fall back on magical computers or psychic detectives or time travelers or any fantastical method they can imagine to drag criminals to justice in 60 minutes or less. Wisdom of the Crowd latches onto this TV trope with the cold, dead fingers of an NRA president on a Winchester. Wisdom of the Crowd more or less photocopies its premise from the late, unlamented shows APB (about a Silicon Valley genius who spends billions to give impossibly high-tech equipment to a Chicago Police precinct after his friend is murdered) and Pure Genius (about a Silicon Valley genius who spends billions to give impossibly high-tech equipment to a San Francisco hospital after hes diagnosed with an incurable disease). In Wisdom of the Crowd, our Silicon Valley genius is Jeffrey Tanner (Jeremy Piven, trying to do some kind of soulful, self-righteous Ari Gold thingwhich is a terrible idea). After his daughter is murdered, he comes up with the brilliant idea of crowdsourcing crime solving. He creates a cell phone app called SOPHE that people can download and use to inundate police with tips, criminal sightings, possible clues, dick pics, video of actual crimesall sorts of allegedly helpful stuff. The scary part is that the show, and its creators, remain blissfully oblivious that the concept amounts to nothing more than vigilante justice. I dont rely on the internet to provide intelligent, non-racist commentary on a YouTube kitten video. I sure as hell wouldnt expect it to provide non-biased crime solving. Whats to stop a stupid college student from sending in a photo of his ex-girlfriend and labeling her a terrorist? Lets be honest here, Wisdom of the Crowd: America used to have a very effective crowdsourced justice systemit was called lynch mobs. Of course, if the show had some sort of edgy narrative appeal, we might be able to ignore its morally shaky setup. Sadly, though, Wisdom of the Crowd amounts to little more than standard-issue, paint-by-numbers, ripped- from- the- headlines CBS crime solving. One recent episode, for example, featured the murder of a white nationalist with a more-than-passing resemblance to headline hog Richard Spencer. Theres a fine line between topical and lazy, people. To top it all off, CBS already did the computer crime solving thing with Person of Interestbut that show worked because it leaned away from cliche, crime-of-the-week stories to explore the dark, sci-fi implications of artificial intelligence. Wisdom of the Crowd harbors no such ambitions. Blissfully lacking in self-awareness, it just wants to turn police work into a giant game of Pokemon GO. FM Nirmala Sitharaman hints at possibility of Centre considering restoration of state status to J&K In J&K, 14,000 dropouts find their way back to schools One Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist gunned down in Jammu and Kashmir PMs dream of development in J&K is becoming a reality: Puri J&K: Grenade attack on police post in Kulgam India oi-Vikas By Vikas Terrorists hurled grenade at a police post in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam area on Thursday. The incident took place at Damhal Hanji Pora area. More details are awaited. On Tuesday, a group of terrorists lobbed grenades on a police patrol party in Tral area of Pulwama district in Jammu and Kashmir. Earlier on Sunday, one CRPF jawan was injured as militants hurled grenade at the residence of a National Conference leader in Jammu and Kashmir. On Saturday night, suspected militants also vandalised the residence of an aide of a PDP leader in Tral. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, October 26, 2017, 17:21 [IST] Kerala govt intends to replace Governor as Chancellor of universities through ordinance DGP Kerala orders FIR against The Kerala Story after TN journalist forwards complaint to CM Kerala ISIS youth were planning big South Indian strike India oi-Vicky By Vicky The investigation being conducted following the three suspected Islamic State operatives from Kerala has revealed that they were planning on targeting prominent places and personalities in South India. Sources say that these persons had hatched up a plan and were in the process of collecting explosives in a bid to carry out major strikes in South Indian states. Official sources said the suspects, identified as Rasheed, Razzaq and Mithilaj, were stationed in Turkey and were trying to enter Syria when they were intercepted by Turkish authorities and deported to India. All three are natives of Chakkarakkal in Kannur. The Valapattanam police recorded their arrest in the evening. P P Sadanandan, Kannur deputy superintendent of police, said the arrested men had lived in Istanbul for four months. Police sources said that even after the arrests, "claims" had surfaced in jihadi propaganda groups on social media that another unit was actively pursuing the plan. OneIndia News Linking Aadhaar with mobile? Govt likely to allow other ID proofs as well India oi-Vicky By Vicky Recommended Video Government may allow linking other IDs instead of Aadhar with mobile number | Oneindia News The government is contemplating allowing other forms of identification proof instead of Aadhaar to be linked with your mobile number. Facing severe criticism on issues such as invasion of privacy, the government is likely to allow ID proofs such as driving license, ration cards and passports to be linked with your mobile number. While no final call has been taken on this matter, the government is exploring various possibilities of allowing other IDs as authentication proof. The entire process would in conformity of the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court. How to link Aadhaar with mobile online On Wednesday the government told the Supreme Court that it was ready to extend the date to link Aadhaar with various government schemes to March 2018. The Centre also told the court that a decision on whether to penalise those who refuse to link their Aadhaar numbers during the pendency of the SC would be made known by Monday. OneIndia News PM Modi should admit that demonetistion a failure: Owaisi on cash seizure in UP Modinomics, Jaitleynomics destroyed economy? Congress wants PM to apologise for note ban India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Recommended Video PM Modi New Delhi, Oct 26: There is no end to politics over demonetisation. As it is going to be a year since the Narendra Modi government decided to ban Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes as a part of demonetisation on November 8 last year, both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Centre and the Opposition are coming up with their own versions of "note ban". While the Opposition led by the Congress is going to observe November 8 as the "black day", the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government is going to mark the same day as the "anti-black money day". The idea behind the opposition parties to observe the day as "black day" as demonetisation allegedly proved costly for the country's economy leading to slow growth rate, loss in jobs and derailment of development processes, to name a few. The ruling BJP wants to celebrate the day as demonetisation was introduced to fight against corruption, black money and terror funding, which the Centre believes has succeeded in fulfilling. After Arun Jaitley on Wednesday announced that the government is going to celebrate November 8 as the "anti-black money day", the Congress immediately targeted Prime Minister Modi and the Union finance minister over the current "mess in the economy". The Congress asked the PM to apologise for the demonetisation decision which took the lives of 150 people and wiped off millions of jobs. "Modinomics and Jaitleynomics have destroyed India's economic growth story. Jobs are in peril, businesses are shutting down, exports are falling, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is on a downward spiral, Non-Performing Asset (NPA) have touched a whopping Rs 9 lakh crore and credit growth is a low of 63 years," Congress spokespersons Randeep Surjewala and Anand Sharma said. "The PM should apologise to the nation," the Congress spokespersons demanded. The Congress questioned the BJP over its decision to "celebrate the first anniversary of note ban". "Instead of apologising for the death of over 150 people and unprecedented strike on livelihood of common Indians, the BJP is so drunk with power that it wants to celebrate the 'Demon of Demonetisation'," said the two Congress leaders. Early in the day, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi made a 'sarcastic' remark against Jaitley's claims of over 7 per cent growth in the past three years and termed them as farcical. "Dear Mr Jaitley, May the farce be with you," Rahul tweeted. The Congress asked the Centre where had all the black money gone and whether note ban helped curb fake currency and terror funding, and pushed digital economy, as claimed by the PM. "PM Modi and FM Jaitley say that since November 2016 up to May 2017, a total Rs 17,526 crore has been detected as 'Undisclosed Income'. They forget to mention that 5 times more 'Black Money' was unearthed by the Congress-led UPA government in its last two years," said Sharma. The Congress alleged that the BJP government is lying about the country's economy. "Whatever has been said about the economy is not true. It is wrong to say that India's economic fundamentals are strong and the claim that India's economy is the world's fastest growing economy is factually incorrect," said Sharma. "The government has no plans to put the economy back on track," he added. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, October 26, 2017, 8:09 [IST] Zakir Naik wants Indian Muslims to migrate to Kerala, a state he mastered in radicalising The crimes of Zakir Naik: Extolling every Muslim to be a terrorist, paid Rs 50k per Islamic conversion Prosecutions story may be attractive but should be backed by evidence NIA books Zakir Naik for inciting youth to take up terror India oi-Chennabasaveshwar By Chennabasaveshwar The National Investigation in its chargesheet has accused controversial Islamic preacher Dr Zakir Naik of inciting youth to take up terror through his hate speeches. The NIA which filed a chargesheet running into over 50 pages also named the Islamic Research Foundation and the Harmony Media Pvt Ltd which is being run by Naik. The NIA accuses him of indulging in unlawful activities, malicious acts and also insulting religion to disturb communal harmony. While filing the chargesheet the NIA has relied on over 80 statements which were made under Section 161 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. A statement made by Naik's sister under Section 164 of the CrPC in which she says that her brother had used her as a tool in a company set up by him is also relied upon by the NIA. The NIA has booked Naik under Section 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 investigation revealed there are 19 immovable properties, including land and building, worth Rs 104 Crore connected with the accused. The source of these properties and the means of acquisition of these properties is being investigated, said NIA to ANI. The 51-year-old televangelist, who is currently abroad, was being probed under terror and money-laundering charges by the NIA. He fled from India on July 1, 2016, after terrorists in neighbouring Bangladesh claimed that they were inspired by his speeches. 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 controversial preacher has been accused of spreading hatred by his provocative speeches, funding terrorists and laundering several crores of rupees over the years. (With agency inputs) Nigerians involved in drug-dealing: Hansraj Ahir India oi-Vikas By Vikas Minister of State for Home Affairs Hansraj Ahir has said that Nigerians in Delhi were involved in drug-dealing. He said that India respects people from all nations, adding that some getting long-term visas to stay in India were involved in illegal activities. "We respect people from all nations and give them due dignity. However, there are some people, who are getting long-term visas to stay in India, but are involved in illegal activities, such as Nigerians in Delhi, who are involved in drug-dealing," ANI quoted Ahir as saying. He also spoke on the Rohingya issue and said the government is right in opposing hteir entry to India. Ahir said that the activities in which certain Rohingyas were involved is not "in the interest of our people". "Those who pick up arms and retaliate against their own governance will not find a place in India," he added. In July, five Nigerians and an Indian woman were arrested for drug related crimes. Arrested by the Rachakonda Police in Hyderabad were Palaparthi Sangeetha, 35, a resident of Sun City, her partner Cosmas Ojukwu, 30, their associates John Okorie, 26, a BA student of Nizam College, Okereke Cyril Anezi, 31, a BCom student of Nizam College and president of Nigerians in Hyderabad, John Paul Onyebuchi, 34, and Ogunka Henry Okechukwu, 31. In June, the Anti-Narcotics Cell of the Navi Mumbai police arrested a Nigerian national in Kharghar for being in possession of 178.6 gram of methaqualone worth Rs 8.15 lakh. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, October 26, 2017, 12:39 [IST] PM Modi has very big chest but small heart: Rahul Gandhi India oi-Deepika By Deepika Continuing his attack against Modi government, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said that to carry out something like last year's demonetisation one needed "someone with a very big chest but a very small heart". Speaking at the PHD chambers in Delhi, Rahul Gandhi said trust in Modi government is dead. People are fast losing trust with government. Gandhi said the prime minister had failed to understand one basic thing about the economy before the major decision and that is: "All cash is not black and all black is not cash"." Business thrives on trust. Business is about creating harmony. The truth is that the trust in this government is dead. For some reasons, the PM and his government is absolutely convinced that every single person in this country is a thief," he said. "Without understanding these basics, the Prime minister used his vast power to unleash terror on people to make millions of Indians stand in ques for months, to run from one ATM to another, many of them dying in the process, and millions losing their jobs and livelihoods," he added. "50,000 jobs are created by China every single day. India creates 450. The only force capable of meeting China's challenge is MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Businesses)," Mr Gandhi said, pledging that his party "will always have the humility" to stand with MSMEs. "World is laughing at us with debates that Taj Mahal was built by Indians," Rahul said.The Congress vice-president also referred to the recent controversy regarding Taj Mahal that was triggered by BJP leader Sangeet Som. OneIndia News Restauranteur husband arrested for killing wife, misleading police in Delhi India pti-PTI Recommended Video Delhi restaurant owner confesses of killing wife after misleading police | Oneindia News New Delhi, October 26: Delhi Police on Thursday arrested the husband of a 34-year-old woman for allegedly killing her and then trying to mislead them by claiming that she was killed by some moneylenders who were harassing him. Priya Mehra was shot dead in the early hours Wednesday in northwest Delhi's Shalimar Bagh area while she was returning from the Bangla Sahib Gurdwara with her husband and two-year-old child, police said. Her husband, Pankaj Mehra, had told the police that he had taken money on credit and was unable to return Rs 40 lakh, including the interest that had piled up. He had claimed that the lenders had been threatening him and had asked him to return the amount with the interest. The police found inconsistencies in his version of the incident and questioned him. During an interrogation, Pankaj confessed to killing his wife, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northwest) Milind Dumbere said. The police said that Pankaj thought he would be able to mislead them by claiming that the killing was the handiwork of some moneylenders who had been threatening him. Pankaj was married to another woman despite being married to Priya. He was inclined towards his other wife and thought of eliminating Priya, they said. To find the weapon he used to kill his wife the police have taken him into custody PTI RSMSSB CHO Recruitment: Check vacancy, eligibility and how to apply To marry her love, Rajasthan teacher changes gender Sachin Pilot challenges Rajasthan govt's ordinance in HC India oi-Vikas By Vikas Congress leader Sachin Pilot has challenged Vasundhara Raje-led government's ordinance seeking to protect public servants, judges and magistrates from investigation in the Rajasthan High Court. Pilot, who is Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee president, has moved a writ petition in the High Court against Criminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) Ordinance, 2017, promulgated on September 6. The petition states that the ordianance violates Article 14 (right to equality) and Article 19 (1) (a) (freedom of speech and expression) of the Constitution. Two PILs and a writ petition have already been filed in the Rajasthan High Court against the ordinance. Amidst the criticism and some legal action, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje earlier showed signs of a re-think on the ordinance. Raje also held meetings with senior bureaucrats late on Monday evening. It is said that the ordinance may be re-worked. The Ordinance which prohibits investigations into allegations against current and former judges, magistrates and civil servants without previous permission, was put into effect on September 7. Defending the government, Rajasthan Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria had on Sunday told that there was no provision in the ordinance which will weaken action against corrupt officers. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, October 26, 2017, 16:57 [IST] Sana Iqbals death was murder, not accident alleges mother India oi-Vicky By Vicky The mother of Sana Iqbal has filed a complaint that the death of her daughter was not an accident, but a pre-planned murder. The 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 Sana's husband, Abdul Nadeem, and made to look like a car accident. "We have recorded the mother's statement that there was domestic physical abuse. Investigations are on," said Sudheer Kumar, the investigating officer in the case. Hyderabad: Sana Iqbal who campaigned against depression dies in car accident The mother alleged in her written complaint that the FIR that was apparently lodged by Sana's 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," 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. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, October 26, 2017, 6:24 [IST] By Ritah Kemigisa: As Kenyans head to the poll today, President Uhuru Kenyatta has urged all Kenyans to turn out in big numbers and exercise their constitutional and democratic right to vote for their next president. Addressing the nation last night, Kenyatta assured those who do not wish to vote today that their rights are protected by the law and constitution. He however warned those who intend to disrupt the election and infringe on the right of those who want to vote to do so according to the constitution, vowing not to allow the country to go into anarchy if the constitution is defied. Kenyatta meanwhile says security personnel have been heavily deployed to ensure the safety of all the people in Kenya. The Supreme Court annulled the original election in August, saying there had been irregularities and illegalities. Opposition leader Raila Odinga is boycotting the re-run, saying nothing has changed. He has instead asked all NASA supporters to boycott the election by holding prayers away from polling stations or stay at home as Kenya holds what he has termed as a sham repeat presidential election. US sergeant gone missing in Afghanistan may face court martial Soldier who accidentally crossed LoC court marshaled India pti-PTI New Delhi, Oct 26: An Indian soldier, Chandu Babulal Chavan, has been court marshalled after he was found guilty of crossing the LoC and entering Pakistan controlled territory. An Army court has recommended nearly three months imprisonment for him. Official sources said that the Army court sentenced 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 news of his capture by Pakistani troops. PTI Sunanda Pushkar's death: Cops say she was in mental agony because of Tharoor-Mehr affair Sunanda Pushkar case: Delhi HC dismisses Subramanian Swamy's petition India oi-Chennabasaveshwar By Chennabasaveshwar The Delhi High Court on Thursday dismissed the petition filed by senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy to re-investigate the Sunanda Pushkar murder case. Central government and Delhi Police told high court that they don't subscribe to the view expressed by Swamy that probe in the case has been influenced by Shashi Tharoor. The court said Swamy appears to have concealed data or information which he should have disclosed at the first instance. It is left with distinct impression that this is perhaps a textbook example of "political interest litigation" being dressed up as PIL, said the court. A bench of Justices S Muralidhar and I S Mehta said the petition by Swamy cannot be entertained as a PIL. The bench also said that from what was placed before the court, it was unable to be persuaded that the probe, being carried out by the SIT, is botched up or under the influence of any party. The delay in the investigation was caused by the delay in de-sealing of the suite of Leela hotel. The hotel suite was finally de-sealed on October 16, three years after the room was sealed for investigation. The Delhi Police, which was vested with the responsibility of de-sealing the suite, has on several occasions come under the fire of judiciary, for delaying the task. Sunanda Pushkar, the wife of Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, was found dead under mysterious circumstances at a suite in Delhi's Leela hotel on the night of January 17, 2014. In July, Subramanian Swamy had moved the Delhi High Court seeking a court-monitored probe by a CBI-led Special Investigation Team into the death of Sunanda Pushkar. OneIndia News Swiss couple attacked in Fatehpur Sikri: 5 arrested, UP govt condemns incident India pti-PTI A young Swiss couple was attacked by a group of four youths in Agra's Fatehpur Sikri in Uttar Pradesh, leaving them battered and bruised, after which five of them were arrested, police said on Thursday. Quentin Jeremy Clerc, 24, who came to India on September 30 with his female friend Marie Droz, also 24, are on the way to recovery, said doctors at Apollo Hospital in Delhi where the couple have been admitted. The attack took place on Sunday, police said, adding all the four assailants have been identified. Dr Rajendra Prasad, neurosurgeon at the Apollo Hospital in Delhi where the couple was admitted, said Clerc has been shifted to the ward from the ICU. He said Droz has a fracture in her arm but has been discharged after treatment. "We have moved him(Clerc) out of the ICU into a room. He is having a hearing problem otherwise he is conscious and talking," said Prasad, adding it is difficult to say at this moment whether he has suffered permanent hearing damage.The couple from Lausanne in Switzerland was chased and attacked on Sunday with stones and sticks by a group of four youths in the tourist town of Fatehpur Sikri, about 40 km from Agra, according to media accounts of the incident. "The Embassy of Switzerland in New Delhi confirms that two Swiss citizens were attacked in India," the Embassy said in a statement, adding, "In the framework of consular protection services, the Embassy is providing support to them. For reasons of privacy and data protection, the Embassy cannot communicate any further information in this regard." UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who was in Agra to visit Taj Mahal in an apparent damage control exercise following the controversy over its place in Indian heritage set off by BJP leaders, said two attackers had been arrested. "Two attackers have been arrested, and strict action will be taken against those (other people) involved in the attack," he told reporters in Agra. Shortly after, third arrest in the case was made by the UP police. "We have given instructions to police to strictly deal with such people. Our government will not accept such incidents," he added. Additional Director General (ADG) Crime Chandra Prakash earlier told reporters in Lucknow that one person has been arrested from Agra-Rajasthan border and that search is on to nab three others. A police official later said two of the assailants have been arrested. PTI Is Switzerland in your travel plan? Check fresh guidelines on COVID test, quarantine rules Can death ever be euphoric? Switzerland approves suicide pods lets users die at the press of a button Death tourism: Why Noida man wants to go to Switzerland for euthanasia? Switzerland Embassy offers protection to tourist couple India oi-Chennabasaveshwar By Chennabasaveshwar The Switzerland Embassy on Thursday offered support to the tourist couple who were brutally attacked by a group of men in Agra's Fatehpur Sikri. The Embassy stated, "In the framework of consular protection services, we are providing support to them." Meanwhile, the MEA officials met the couple in the hospital. "We met the couple, they are doing fine. They are happy with the hospital and the treatment," MEA officials said. Also, Union Tourism Minister K.J. Alphons wrote to UP CM Yogi Aditya Nath expressing his concern over the attack on the Swiss citizens. In his letter to Adityanath, Alphons has said he is "deeply concerned" over the attacks. "You would kindly appreciate that such incidents negatively impact our image and are detrimental to our efforts in promoting India as a tourism destination. "A fast and speedy response in identifying and ensuring speedy action, including the conviction of the guilty, would be reassuring, as also a good message of our efforts to prevent recurrence of such incidents," the minister has written in his letter to the Uttar Pradesh chief minister. C Prakash, ADG Crime on Fatehpur Sikri, said one person was arrested and efforts are on to nab others. The accused was arrested from Rajasthan border. OneIndia News UP ATS picks up two more accused in Al-Qaeda radicalisation case UP: 4 dead, 4 severely injured in road accident on Yamuna Expressway Madrasa survey in UP complete, next up is meeting with government: Minister UP minister hands out Rs 4000 'compensation' for causing Rs 25,000 loss India oi-Chennabasaveshwar By Chennabasaveshwar Uttar Pradesh Minister Jai Kumar Singh handed out a 'compensation' of Rs 4,000 to a farmer for driving over his farm land and destroying crops. Jai Kumar Singh's convoy ran over a farming land in Jalaun on Wednesday. Later, Jai Kumar Singh gave Rs 4,000 as compensation to the affected farmer. But the farmer was apparently disappointed over minister's gesture. Farmer Devendra Kumar told a private TV channel that his crops worth Rs 25,000 were destroyed, but he got compensation of only Rs 4,000 for the loss. He claimed he had taken loan to sow the seeds in his field. The farmer further said that he would have earned Rs 50,000 from the crops. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, October 26, 2017, 18:44 [IST] Was Tipu a secular freedom fighter? Well, ask the Kodava India oi-Vicky By Vicky President of India, Ram Nath Kovind triggered off a war of words after he said in his speech that Tipu Sultan was a man of valour and died fighting the British. He also went on to say that Tipu was a pioneer in missiles to which BJP MP, Prathap Simha shot back and said, if that was the case, then why didn't he fire them. The debate rages on whether Tipu was a tyrant or freedom fighter? Around 240 kilometres away from Bengaluru, there is the Kodagu district. A hill station with a small population. There is no debating Tipu there. Ask any Kodava or Coorgi and he will say Tipu was a fraud who cheated them as he stared at defeat. Almost everyone in Kodagu consider him to be a tyrant who tricked them into surrendering when he realized he was losing the battle against them. Senior citizens of Kodagu say that the Tipu Jayanthi celebrations at least in Kodagu is not in conformity with the sentiments that the people have towards the ruler from Srirangapatana. History records that the Kodavas and Tipu Sultan have had a bitter rivalry always. Tipu wanted to capture Kodagu as he felt he could use it as a gateway to Mangalore which has a port. If Tipu developed the missile, why didn't he fire them? No just Tipu, but his father Hyder Ali too made several attempts to capture Kodagu. Various attempts by father and son were a failure as they found it hard to battle in Kodagu which has vast tracts of land and mountains which was very familiar to the locals. The Kodavas who pride themselves for contributing immensely to the Indian army thanks to Field Marshal K C Kariappa and General K S Thimmaiah were good at guerrilla warfare which gave them an advantage of Tipu's army. A Wikipedia entry suggests that the Kodavas despite being outnumbered 1:3 always managed to defeat the Tipu army. There were a couple of times that Tipu and his army managed to reach Madikeri, the capital of Kodagu, but he was beaten. The Kodavas has sworn never to bow to the Sultan. However, Tipu once managed to capture Kodagu on one ocassion and is said to have uttered the words, "if you ambush my men, I will honour you all with Islam." The Kodavas did not take this lying down and beat Tipu and drove him back to Mysore. Tipu by now realized that his war was going nowhere and beating the Kodavas was not easy. He decided to offer his hand of friendship. The Kodavas made a grave error in trusting Tipu. The Kodavas were in fact happy to offer their hand of friendship as the battle against him was being won, but at a huge cost and the warriors were tired. The Kodavas are said to have welcomed Tipu. However, they were caught completely off guard when Tipu's men launched an attack against the Kodavas who were unarmed. He took many as prisoners. Tipu had even sought the help of the Nawab of Kurnool to launch the attack. Several thousand Kodavas were captured and taken to Srirangapatana where it is believed they were forcibly converted. Stories of conversion and torture have been narrated by the Kodavas who were in captivity of Tipu. Various historians have given different figures about the number of Kodavas who were converted. Figures range between 60,000 to 85,000. Well, if you think Tipu was a brave freedom fighter, then ask the Kodava. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, October 26, 2017, 8:08 [IST] Why Indias first voter, 101-year-old Negi from HP, believes Modi is the only leader to bring change India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Shimla, Oct 26: The hill state of Himachal Pradesh is all geared up to elect its new Assembly during the state polls slated on November 9. Every time an election is announced in the state, the first thing that comes to the mind of almost everyone is the face of 101-year-old Shyam Saran Negi, who holds the distinction of being the first Indian voter to exercise his/her democratic right during the 1951 General elections. The 1951 elections were the first ones to be hosted in independent India after the British left the country in 1947. Although the majority of the election took place in February 1952, residents of Himachal Pradesh were given the chance to vote five months early because of the probability that heavy snowfall would make it impossible for citizens to reach the polling stations. And, Negi, then as a 35-year-old young and enthusiastic man is believed to be the first person to cast his vote in the hill state. Since then Negi, a retired school teacher, has cast his vote in 16 Lok Sabha and 14 Assembly elections. Now, he is once again gearing up to exercise his franchise in the upcoming Assembly polls. Negi, who lives in tribal Kalpa village of Kinnaur district, told News18 that everyone should vote, especially youngsters, for the country's growth. He added that he would love to vote once again if his health remains fine. "You never know what might happen tomorrow," he says, adding, "sometimes even I don't know if I will see another day." In an interview with The Tribune, Negi said that politicians should rise above caste, creed and regional politics and work without any bias. Negi added that after Mahatma Gandhi, Narendra Modi was the only leader who could change the country. "I am the first voter of the independent India by default as the first elections in the tribal area were held in 1951," said 101-year-old Negi. "I am impressed by the speeches of PM Modi. I believe after Mahatma Gandhi, he is the only leader who can bring about a change," he added. He stated that a good and strong leader at the Centre could improve the functioning of state governments. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, October 26, 2017, 9:50 [IST] Why we must worry about these Kerala ISIS operatives returning to India India oi-Vicky By Vicky The past couple of days has seen a surge in the number of arrests relating to the Islamic State. In all five persons have been arrested from Kerala on two different days for their links with the global terror organisation. In Gujarat two persons were arrested and it was alleged that they were planning to strike ahead of the elections. While these arrests would provide the agencies a mine of information, what one also must bear in mind especially in the Kerala related case is these persons were deported to India. It is a well known fact that the ISIS is facing heavy losses in its strongholds of Syria and Iraq. There are around 100 suspected ISIS fighters from India in these countries. The ISIS has already started to tell their fighters to return to their mother land and stage attacks. Intelligence Bureau officials say that such returns need to be monitored. The ISIS is losing territory in all its strongholds and is asking the fighters to return to their home land and strike. In the midst of this ISIS directive, the IB has directed that a close watch be kept on airports and ports as well borders. We have seen that pattern in France and Britain when ISIS fighters have returned to their home country and carried out attacks. We do not rule out a similar ploy here as well, the IB officer said. Kerala ISIS youth were planning big South Indian strike Counter-terrorism officials say that the ISIS is in a desperate mode. Their plans in India have failed several times. This would be one more attempt they would make to ensure the return of their Indian fighters. Moreover unlike those operatives in India, these persons who are coming back are well trained and attack ready. Hence the alert levels must be high at all times, the official also added. P P Sadanandan, Kannur deputy superintendent of police, said the arrested men had lived in Istanbul for four months. Police sources said that even after the arrests, "claims" had surfaced in jihadi propaganda groups on social media that another unit was actively pursuing the plan. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, October 26, 2017, 13:46 [IST] Thief calls cops for help after being caught by mob Bangladesh wants India to mediate for early and smooth repatriation of Rohingyas International oi-Amitava By Amitava Bangladesh has requested India's help in dealing with the Rohingya crisis. Bangladesh wants India to mediate between the two countries (Myanmar and Bangladesh ) for the smooth repatriation of the Rohingyas to their country of origin, Myanmar. Figures released by the United Nations in September this year claimed that around 436,000 Rohingyas have fled to Bangladesh since the latest round of violence erupted in Myanmar's Rakhine state in August. As the exodus continues the number of Rohingya settlers in Bangladesh grows in leaps and bounds by the day. Speaking at a conference organized by Tripura University at the Omio Kumar Das Institute of Social Change and Development at Agartala, Shakhawat Hossain, Assistant High Commissioner of Bangladesh requested Indian help for early and smooth repatriation of the Rohingyas to Myanmar. Addressing the conference Hossain stated that continued pressure has to be exerted on Myanmar for repatriation of the Rohingyas. Hossain stated that as India is a regional power and exercises geo-political influence in the South East Asia India could work as a mediator. Having common borders with both Bangladesh and Myanmar and enjoying sound relations with both Bangladesh and Myanmar could enable India to mediate for the repatriation of the Rohingyas, feels the Diplomat. India has adopted a tough stand and has pushed back attempts by the Rohingyas to enter Indian soil. However India has been providing aid and relief materials to the temporary camps running in neighbouring Bangladesh for the Rohingya refugees. Incidentally Sushma Swaraj, External Affairs Minister, Government of India, in a statement issued after a joint consultative committee meeting in Dhaka, Bangladesh to discuss India- Bangladesh ties, recently, had stated "The only long term solution to the situation (Rohingya) in Rakhine State is rapid socio-economic and infrastructure development that would have a positive impact on all communities living in the State." An Indian Diplomat in Bangladesh, talking to the Daily Star, stated that India will continue to engage with Myanmar to pursue safe and sustainable repatriation of the Rohingyas. "We also spoke to Myanmar authorities and urged them to implement the recommendations of the Kofi Annan-led commission," the Diplomat told the Daily Star. However India does not support any forceful approach that might turn counterproductive stated the Indian Diplomat. The two-day Workshop on "India Bangladesh Border and cross border relations in North East India," organized by the Omeo Kumar Das Institute of Social Change and Development and the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, Tripura University, in collaboration with the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Japan, concluded on October 24. Hossain stated that the High Commission of Bangladesh in India would provide support for promoting discussions and workshops on similar subjects in future. He added that his Mission would like to facilitate joint academic pursuits between Tripura University and Universities of Bangaldesh. The Rohingyas are an ethnic group, majority belonging to the Muslim faith, who have lived for centuries in Myanmar. Following an attack on the police posts and an army base in Myanmar on August 25 that left 12 officers dead, the Myanmar military has imposed a crackdown on the Rohingya population which they have dubbed a clearance operation against an insurgent terrorist group. Due to ongoing violence and persecution, hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have fled to neighbouring countries either by land or boat. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, October 26, 2017, 14:17 [IST] Iran boat crippled after pirate attack, US Navy comes to its aid International pti-PTI Washington, Oct 26: The United States and Iran may not share good diplomatic relations, but an American destroyer came to the aid of an Iranian fishing boat after a pirate attack off Yemen. 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 on Wednesday. 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. PTI By Mukhaye Damali: The Uganda human rights commission has condemned police for engaging in partisan politics while handling the controversial presidential age limit consultation meetings which are underway across the country. Addressing journalists at their offices in Kampala, the acting chairperson Meddie Mulumba said that the commission has noticed police offering protection to Members of Parliament supporting the lifting of the age limit while those opposed to the amendment are being arrested and harassed. They have called on the police to remain neutral and treat all Ugandans equally regardless of political interests or affiliatons. 32,000 girls converted to Islam and sold as ISIS slaves: This is The Kerala Story Iraq forces launch assault on last IS bastion International pti-PTI Baghdad, Oct 26: Iraqi troops launched an assault on the last Islamic State group bastion in the country on Thursday. The Kurds, however, said Baghdad's forces had attacked their fighters near the border with Turkey. There had been fears that the bitter dispute that has raged between the Baghdad government and Iraqi Kurdish leaders since they held a referendum for independence last month would hamper the campaign against the jihadists. But federal troops and allied paramilitaries pressed ahead with a threatened drive up the Euphrates valley towards the Syrian border in a bid to retake two Sunni Arab towns that have been bastions of insurgency since soon after the US-led invasion of 2003. The US-led coalition battling IS said it was "the last big fight" against the jihadists. Iraqi forces have retaken more than 90 percent of the territory IS seized in the country in 2014, with the jihadists now confined to a small stretch of the valley adjoining some of the last areas they still hold in Syria. "The heroic legions are advancing into the last den of terrorism in Iraq to liberate Al-Qaim, Rawa and the surrounding villages and hamlets," Prime Minister Haider Al- Abadi said in a statement from neighbouring Iran where he is on a state visit. "They will all return to the arms of the motherland thanks to the determination and endurance of our fighting heroes," he added. "The people of IS have no choice but to die or surrender," he added. Al-Qaim has been renowned as a bastion of Sunni Arab insurgency for years. Coalition troops carried out repeated operations with names like Matador and Steel Curtain in 2005 to flush out Al- Qaeda jihadists. The town lies at the heart of a wealthy agricultural region and was once a railhead for the phosphate mining centre of Akhashat in the desert to the south. In the era of Saddam Hussein, Al-Qaim's huge chemical factory treated uranium to feed Iraq's nuclear programme. But American air strikes in 1991 and then United Nations inspections transformed the factory into a metallic skeleton. Coalition commanders are convinced that Al-Qaim will be IS's last stand in its ambitions to territorial control of the cross-border caliphate it proclaimed in 2014. On the Syrian side of the border, Russian-backed government forces have been pushing down the Euphrates valley while US-backed Kurdish and Arab fighters have been attacking the jihadists from their stronghold in the north. The launch of the offensive against IS's last Iraqi redoubt comes with thousands of Iraqi federal troops and militia engaged in an operation to reassert federal control over thousands of square kilometres (miles) of territory long disputed with the Kurds. On Thursday, federal troops and allied paramilitaries stepped up that operation, assaulting Kurdish forces in a disputed oil-rich area of Nineveh province in the far north near the Turkish border, Kurdish authorities said. "As of 6 am (0300 GMT), Iraqi forces and Iranian-backed PMF (Hashed al-Shaabi -- Popular Mobilisation Forces) are shelling peshmerga positions from Zummar front, northwest Mosul, using heavy artillery," the top defence body of the autonomous Kurdish regional government said. "They are advancing towards peshmerga positions." Parts of Nineveh province north and east of Iraq's second city Mosul are some of the last areas that Kurdish forces still hold outside their longstanding three-province autonomous region. Kurdish leaders have long argued that their historic Kurdish majorities mean that they should be incorporated in their autonomous region and had taken advantage of the chaos of the war against IS to wrest control of many of them. PTI The terror groups that threaten the US and why Lashkar made it to the list Nigeria: Boko Haram kills six soldiers, loot village International pti-PTI Kano, Oct 26: Terrorist group Boko Haram raided a military base and looted food from villagers in northeast Nigeria, leaving at least six soldiers dead in heavy fighting. Jihadists in six pick-up trucks stormed the base in Sasawa village, some 45 kilometres from the Yobe state capital, Damaturu, at about 5:00 pm on Tuesday. Colonel Kayode Ogunsanya told AFP from Damaturu: "There was an attack by Boko Haram terrorists on a military location in Sasawa village which led to casualties on both sides." He gave no further details but a local chief in the area said: "Six soldiers died in the attack along with several Boko Haram fighters. "Heavy fighting broke out and continued till midnight," he said on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. "When the gunmen realised they would be subdued, they sent for reinforcements and more fighters arrived in three trucks." They overran the base, forcing the soldiers to withdraw. Rebel fighters then moved into the village, which had been deserted by residents to escape the fighting. Another local resident, Aisami Gremah, supported the chief's account. He added: "They (Boko Haram) loaded grains from the recent harvest into the pick-up trucks and moved towards Kareto and Magumeri in neighbouring Borno state." Crops that had been left out to dry on farms outside nearby Tungushe village were set on fire, he said. Boko Haram attacks on military bases were a frequent tactic as the group gained in size and strength, using the weapons and ammunition seized to capture swathes of territory in the northeast in 2013 and 2014. But such attacks and hit-and-run raids on remote villages have drastically reduced in Yobe state since the start of a military counter-offensive in early 2015, which the government maintains has left the jihadists a spent force. Sporadic attacks are still a feature of the conflict, which has claimed at least 20,000 lives and made more than 2.6 million homeless since 2009. In February the jihadists attacked the same military base in Sasawa, killing two civilians. In August, two livestock traders were killed and three others were seriously wounded after they triggered a landmine as they fled a Boko Haram ambush. In Borno state, civilians remain vulnerable from suicide attacks: on Sunday, 14 people were killed in a triple bomb attack in the state capital, Maiduguri. There has also been a spate of attacks against the military since the end of the rainy season in September. On October 18, at least three soldiers were killed when Boko Haram fighters ambushed a military convoy near the Borno town of Damboa. On October 13, one soldier was killed and nine others were wounded in an attack on a military base in the town of Marte, near the shores of Lake Chad. PTI With the number of anonymous rogues from Pak rising, here's how BSF is beating down the drones Pak court issues bailable arrest warrant for Nawaz Sharif in corruption cases International oi-PTI Recommended Video Pakistan court issue bailable arrest warrant against former PM Nawaz Sharif | Oneindia News Islamabad, October 26: Pakistan's anti-corruption court Thursday issued a bailable arrest warrant against ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif in two cases of corruption cases from the Panama Papers leak. The accountability court issued the arrest warrant against Sharif after he failed to appear in the court in two graft cases - the Flagship Investment case and the Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Hill Metal Establishment case. Sharif, 67, is in London with his wife Kalsum who is undergoing cancer treatment, and has not returned to Pakistan for the court hearing since he was indicted in the graft allegations. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on September 8 registered three cases against Sharif, his children and son- in-law in the Accountability Court here following a verdict by the Supreme Court, which disqualified him after an investigation into corruption allegations against his family. Sharif's daughter Maryam and son-in-law Muhammad Safdar appeared in the court but Sharif was absent and his lawyer Khawaja Haris asked the court to exempt him from appearance, according to a court official. NAB deputy prosecutor general Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi opposed the application and said that already the court granted Sharif 15-day exemption that expired on October 24. He accused Sharif of delaying tactics. The court after hearing arguments rejected the plea and issued bailable arrest against him in Al-Azizi Steel and Flagship Investment corruption cases and issued notices to Sharif's guarantor in Avenfield reference case as he was already given bail in the case. The court adjourned hearing in all three cases till November 3. The court last week indicted Sharif in three cases in his absence. The court during the hearing on October 9 decided to separate the trial of his two sons -- Husain and Hasan -- from Sharif and his daughter and son-in-law. It also had ordered to start the process of declaring proclaimed offender to Husain and Hasan for failing to appear before the court. Heavy security arrangements were made and more than 400 security personnel deployed to deal with any untoward situation. The cases are based on July 28 verdict by the Supreme Court which disqualified Sharif and ordered to launch three corruption cases against him and his family, and one case against finance minister Ishaq Dar. Dar has already been indicted and his trial has been going on. PTI For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, October 26, 2017, 13:16 [IST] 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 Rohingya exodus continues, 604,000 refugees reach Bangladesh since Aug 25: UN International oi-Oneindia By Oneindia New York, Oct 26: On Wednesday, the United Nations (UN) stated that a total of 604,000 Rohingyas have sought shelter in Bangladesh since violence broke out in Myanmar's Rakhine State on August 25. The information has been shared by a UN spokesman in New York, United States. "604,000 refugees have sought shelter in Bangladesh since the outbreak of violence in Myanmar on August 25," UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said. More than half of the new arrivals to escape violence in Myanmar's Rakhine state are living in the Kutupalong Expansion Site, which includes several makeshift settlements and land allocated by the government, he added. "Nearly 570,000 people have received food assistance and nearly 310,000 people received health care," said Haq, adding that there are concerns about sanitation, with less than one quarter of sites hosting refugees having access to clean water. A UN-supported humanitarian conference on Monday raised more than $344 million to fund critical relief programs for Rohingya refugees. According to the UN officials, the exodus of Rohingyas from Myanmar to Bangladesh continues unabated. The UN stated that the Rohingya crisis is the fastest growing refugee emergency in the world. The aid workers at the refugee camps in Bangladesh are working closely with Rohingyas to provide them with healthcare and sanitation facilities, safe drinking water, food and proper shelter. On Wednesday, Myanmar's de-facto leader and Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi 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, 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". OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, October 26, 2017, 14:12 [IST] Russian helicopter carrying eight people crashes into sea International oi-Deepika By Deepika Russian helicopter with eight people on board has smashed into the sea near the Norwegian Arctic archipelago of Svalbard. The rescue service for northern Norway says the helicopter was en route to Barentsburg, Svalbard's second- largest settlement, from the Russian settlement of Pyramiden. "We have found oil on the water but no wreck," Olav Bjoergaas, a spokesman for the Joint Rescue Coordination Centers for northern Norway, told The Associated Press. He added that there was poor visibility and heavy snowfall in the region. Svalbard is more than 800 kilometers north of Norway's mainland. The rescue service said the helicopter went down 2 to 3 kilometers from Barentsburg at 3.30 pm. The Mi-8 helicopter belonged to Russian coal company Arktikugol but was operated by charter company Konvers Avia, the Russian Energy Ministry said in a statement. Several units, including two helicopters from the local Svalbard governor and ships from the coast guard and local fishermen were at the presumed crash site, Bjoergaas said. Local hospitals were on high alert. OneIndia News At UNSC, US calls on world to tell Russia to stop its nuclear threats Sherin Mathews had no eating problem, says orphanage owner in India International pti-PTI Dallas, October 26: The owner of a now-closed orphanage in India, where Sherin Mathews stayed before she was adopted by Texas couple, says the child had no difficulty eating despite her adoptive father's account to police when reporting her missing. The body of 3-year-old Sherin was found Sunday in suburban Dallas in a culvert under a road about a half-mile from her parents' home. Police and volunteers had been searching for the girl since October 7. Investigators have said that her father, Wesley Mathews, initially told them he had sent the girl outside at 3 am on Oct 7 to stand near a tree across the alley from the family's fence because she refused to drink her milk. He said he went to check on her after about 15 minutes. Mathews told police the girl had been malnourished when she was adopted and needed to eat whenever she was awake to help her gain weight. But orphanage owner Babitha Kumari told television station WFAA the girl had no problems and that Wesley and Sini Mathews appeared loving when they were going through the adoption process. "The child had no problem at all when she was here, neither in drinking milk or eating," Kumari said. A phone call to the international adoption agency believed to have helped the couple adopt Sherin was not returned yesterday. Wesley Mathews was initially charged with endangering or abandoning a child after reporting the girl missing on Oct 7. He changed his story to police Monday, saying the girl choked on milk and died in the family's garage before he took her body away. He was arrested and charged with felony injury to a child, which carries a sentence of up to life in prison. Mathews was transferred to the Dallas County jail yesterday, which is routine for inmates charged with higher level felonies. The Dallas County Sheriff's Department said he has been placed on suicide watch. A judge reviewed his bond and left it at USD 1 million. Mitch Nolte, an attorney for Sini Mathews, said in a written statement yesterday that she has submitted to several long interviews with police since Oct 7, and because she had nothing to do with the "death or removal" of the child's body, her lawyers see no need for her to "endure further police interrogation." PTI Third Mumbai youth who joined ISIS in Syria dead International oi-Vicky By Vicky Recommended Video Maharashtra youth who joined ISIS has died claims NIA | Oneindia News The National Investigation Agency is verifying the claims made by a person who claimed that Fahad Shaikh, the youth from Kalyan, Maharashtra who had joined the Islamic State has been killed. A person is said to have called Shaikh's father and informed him about the death of his son. Your son is no more, he died fighting in Syria and his last rites will be performed soon, the caller also said. Four persons from Kalyan left for Syria and joined the ISIS in 2014. While Areeb Majeed, one of the youth returned two others Aman Tandel and Shaheem Tanki are said to have died in Syria last year. The police have recorded the statement of the father and intimated the NIA about the same. The NIA is probing this particular case. The central agency will now look into the death of Shaikh. It may be recalled that Majeed upon his return had spoken about the situation in the ISIS camps in Syria. He said that Indian Muslims were looked down upon and he was given odd jobs which included cleaning toilets. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, October 26, 2017, 6:33 [IST] 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 Will Aung San Suu Kyi fulfill her promise of taking back Rohingyas to Myanmar? International oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Naypyidaw, Oct 26: Several international bodies and personalities have severely criticised Myanmar's de-facto leader and Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi for alleged violence unleashed against the Rohingyas by the Myanmar's military under her rule which led to their exodus to Bangladesh. According to an estimate, at least 600,000 Rohingyas have fled from Myanmar to Bangladesh since violence broke out in Rakhine State on August 25. Bangladesh, which is facing the unprecedented crisis of taking care of millions of refugees with little resources at disposal, has asked Myanmar to take back the Rohingyas to their homeland. On Wednesday, Suu Kyi 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, 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". 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. 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 For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, October 26, 2017, 6:58 [IST] Keep Yourself Alive! Clarions new Mega-Conference Offers Everything Under One Roof Published October 26, 2017 by Lee R The best exhibitions, services, technology, and affiliate services are all finally coming together. Conference super-promoter Clarion Gaming is consolidating, and iGaming professionals from all sectors stand to benefit at iGB Live! this summer. Best of the Best Set to launch from 17 20 July 2018 at RAI Amsterdam, iGB Live! combines the best features of the iGaming Super Show, EiG, and the Amsterdam Affiliate Conference to tackle the most pressing issues in the industry and conference circuit. All For One The new event will provide enhanced opportunities for all stakeholders to engage greater swaths of the marketplace within what becomes the industrys biggest dedicated iGaming exhibition and conference. Global Organiser Goals Clarion event director Shona ODonnell, accredited with bringing the original iGaming Super Show to fruition eight years ago, explained the development of iGB Live! which she also shepherded: Our pledge is to deliver global events, knowledge and training strategy to what is a global industry. This involves exploring how we can deploy the power and influence of our brands to best effect on behalf of our customers. ROI ODonnell further clarified that Clarion is seeking to provide a greater return on investment for attendees and the organizations who invest in sending delegates while retaining the respective individual personalities, identity and the vision that have made iGaming Supershow, EiG, and Amsterdam Affiliate three of the best known and respected brands in gaming. Positive Response Already With a three-pronged strategy focusing on networking, education and business, stakeholders are already showing strong interest and support. Stakeholder sentiment was expressed by SBTech Business Development VP Tom Light, whose organisation proudly counts themselves among the event sponsors: EiG and the iGaming Super Show have been high quality events for many years and bringing them together under one roof will enable delegates and sponsors to meet even more key players in the affiliate and B2B space. Light further lauded the events rapid transformation into a must-attend for everyone in the iGaming sector, with Microgaming head of events Penny Campbell designating the conference a bold step that would be welcomed by the industry. More Info Soon ODonnell further hinted at more updates forthcoming at next weeks Berlin AiG. Plainly Visible What is already clear is that the integration of not just events but iGaming sectors stands as a significant opportunity to optimise delegate operations through rapid delivery of the complementary specialised services until now categorically offered across iGaming, EiG, and Amsterdam Affiliate. CASEXE Looks Forward to EiG 2017 CASEXE Company will attend the EiG Conference 2017 in Berlin from October 30 to November 1. From October 30 to November 1, the European iGaming Congress & Expo (EiG) 2017 comes to Berlin and CASEXE will be there. The company has announced its participation at the event and those interested to meet representatives of CASEXE privately can apply for appointments on their website. In order to be among those who will talk to their experts directly one has to fill up a template with the required data. Those whose applications are accepted will be contacted by a CASEXE manager to discuss the details and confirm a meeting. The 2017 EiG Conference will bring under the same roof all the important players in the iGaming industry. Casino, sport betting and lottery operators as well as investors and regulators will attend the event and share their insights. Participants will also learn more about the latest trends in the industry from high-ranking officials and consultants. From regional experts, participants will find out how the industry is changing locally and how to tackle some of the new challenges. Fringe technologies and their implications in the iGaming industry such as the impact of artificial intelligence will also be discussed. This is simply a list. A list of countries where the U.S. has intervened through wars and coups: successful and unsuccessful, initiated, supported or organized, to overthrow an existing government. The cost runs into trillions of dollars, the human toll incalculable ... millions of lives lost, countless more injured or displaced -- women, children, the old and the infirm suffering the most. Starting this list was an exercise to see if every letter of the alphabet could be associated with a target country except of course W and X. However F and O definitely could not, although the latter through Oman faced repeated British interventions. The A - Z A -- Angola, Afghanistan B -- Brazil C -- Cuba, Congo, Chile D -- Dominican Republic E -- Eritrea, El Salvador G -- Greece, Guatemala H -- Haiti, Honduras I -- Iran, Indonesia, Iraq K -- Korea, Kuwait L -- Libya M -- Mexico (acquiring a large expanse of the western U.S.) N -- Nicaragua P -- Panama, Philippines (learned water-boarding) R -- Russia S -- Spain, Somalia, Sudan (South) T -- Turkey U -- Ukraine V -- Vietnam, Venezuela Y -- Yemen By no means does this list profess to be complete; in fact any additions overlooked would be welcome. . See original here By Mark Sumner Few things generate bipartisan agreement in Congress these days, but the idea that a two-man firm in Montana with absolutely no experience was hired to rebuild Puerto Rico's electrical grid at a cost of $300 million, is enough to spur some communication across the aisles. "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.' "A spokesman for Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rob Bishop, R-Utah, agreed that congressional review was needed. The resources panel oversees Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory." Congress' multi-year investigation into Whitewater may have turned up nothing, but the Whitefish deal already looks ... extremely fishy. A firm whose biggest previous job was building less than five miles of electrical line in Arizona was given the mammoth task of taking on a shattered electrical system that stretches over 2,400 miles. To award the contract to Whitefish, the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority ignored reciprocal agreements that could have brought in far more help far more quickly. It also happens that the firm selected has some very special friends. "Luis Vega-Ramos, member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives, told The Daily Beast, "Whitefish's most important expertise or assets seems to have been... having the U.S. secretary of the interior, Ryan Zinke, as their former congressman and current ally and having the wisdom to retain the services of key people close to the governor [of Puerto Rico]." With more than three-quarters of Puerto Rico still without power, with people's lives literally on the line, the job of restoring the system has been handed over to a company that doesn't even have an office. This isn't the first investigation tied to Ryan Zinke. Like many other members of the Trump regime, Zinke has been running around the country, treating the government as his personal bank. "The Interior Department's inspector general's office has opened an investigation into Secretary Ryan Zinke's use of taxpayer-funded charter planes, a spokeswoman said Monday." That includes paying executives from an oil company taxpayer dollars for the use of their corporate jet to fly Zinke to a Las Vegas conference where he told oil companies about insufficient loyalty in his department while working to give away land and resources that belong to the public. "Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said Monday that nearly one-third of employees at his department are not loyal to him and President Donald Trump, adding that he is working to change the department's regulatory culture to be more business friendly." Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). From Reader Supported News The Justice Department and its Bureau of Prisons (BOP) late last week quietly began to close halfway houses, those for-profit entities where nearly all federal prisoners go before they are permitted to go home near the formal end of their sentences. The move, which has gone largely unnoticed, means several things in the near term: fewer federal prisoners will get access to classes and programs to help them reintegrate into society, prison sentences effectively will be longer, and federal prisons will remain grossly overcrowded. An even more important point is that the Obama administration's efforts to reform the criminal justice system are now dead under Donald Trump. The move comes in the wake of Attorney General Jeffrey Beauregard Sessions III's insistence that mandatory minimum sentences be lengthened and his appointment of Army General Mark Inch, the former head of U.S. military prisons in Iraq and Afghanistan, including the notorious Abu Ghraib, as the new director of the BOP. Most Americans really don't have a clear idea of what a halfway house is. I'll give you a personal example. When I was released from prison in early 2015, I was assigned to report to the Hope Village halfway house in Washington, DC. Hope Village is notorious for its well-documented failures. Many of us called it "Hopeless Village" or "Abandon All Hope Village." But the truth is that, even with its problems, it taught many soon-to-be-released prisoners valuable skills as they sought to reenter society, including how to write a resume, how to balance a checkbook, and how to get through a job interview. There were classes on parenting, suicide prevention, and domestic violence prevention. I didn't need any those classes, but many prisoners do. Even more crucially, all federal prisoners are eligible to spend between one and 12 months in a halfway house. Those who need more of a helping hand to become productive citizens get more time. (I got one day. Thanks a lot.) All prisoners must finish a dozen "life skills" classes, get a job, and undergo drug testing. Once they prove to their case managers that they can keep a job and follow the rules, they are sent home to be with their family, and the remainder of their sentence is converted to home confinement, with provisions to leave home to go to work, to the doctor, and to "family events" on the weekends. The Justice Department claims that the halfway house closures will affect only underutilized facilities in small towns. That's nonsense. The BOP already has closed the only halfway houses in cities like Dayton, Ohio, and Columbia, Missouri, cities where the venues were full of recently released prisoners. Protestations that halfway houses are too much of a drain on the federal budget are also patently false. As I mentioned, halfway houses are for-profit entities. Again, let's look at Hope Village as an example. Even though I never spent a single night there, I had to "rent" a bed. My rent was 25 percent of my gross pay, and I had to pay it every Friday. Hope Village makes a profit by renting the bed out to four, five, or even 10 men at the same time, all but one of whom are already home. It also uses the money to fund the re-entry programs I mentioned above. There is no aid coming from the Justice Department. So closing halfway houses doesn't save the American taxpayer a single dollar. It's just a way to keep more people locked up for longer periods of time. If Sessions were serious about saving taxpayer money, he would instead close the BOP's minimum-security work camps. The camps are sometimes called "Club Fed," although I can attest that there is nothing about prison at any level that resembles a country club. With that said, camp prisoners are classified by the Justice Department as "out custody" prisoners. That means that they are free to come and go as they please so long as they do not abscond, there are no bars on the windows, the facility doors remain unlocked, and most prisoners work in town or for private contractors. If you get sick, it's no problem. Another prisoner will drive you to the doctor's office, drop you off, and pick you up when you're done. It's the honor system. Most of the prisoners there are crooked lawyers, bankers, and politicians, or drug offenders who have worked their way down from higher-custody prisons through good behavior. My question, then, is that if your crime is so minor and you are at such a low risk of running away or of committing another crime, why are you in prison in the first place? Minimum-security camps should be closed immediately and all of the prisoners there should be sent either to halfway houses or to home confinement. It would save the government millions of dollars annually, it would reunite families, and it would put prisoners back to work when they otherwise would be drains on the federal system. This isn't a very complicated issue. There's a clear-cut right way and a clear-cut wrong way to reform the system. Unfortunately, Jeff Sessions is wrong. He's clearly and obviously wrong. His wrongness is more than just stubbornness or ideology. His wrongness is breaking up families and contributing mightily to criminal recidivism. If somebody is getting out of prison, which nearly every federal prisoner eventually will, and he has no education, no job training, and no life skills, he's going to do the only thing he knows how to do. He's going to commit crimes again. The next time it'll be on Jeff Sessions. Reader Supported News is the Publication of Origin for this work. Permission to republish is freely granted with credit and a link back to Reader Supported News. Robots Create Made in the USA Jobs By Joel D. Joseph, Chairman, Made in the USA Foundation In the long run, many economists think that automation and robotics are going to replace a significant percentage, if not the majority, of manufacturing jobs. However, most of those job losses will be in low-wage countries where unskilled workers are doing routine, mind-numbing jobs. Despite an increase in robots on the assembly line, the United States has added more than 25,000 manufacturing jobs during 2016. Robots on Assembly Line (Image by Joel Joseph) Details DMCA Where Do These Jobs Come From? The bulk of these new jobs -- about 60 percent from 2010 through 2016 -- came from China. Labor has become more expensive in China, with Chinese wages going up 12 percent to 15 percent a year for the past 15 years. Thousands of jobs have also come back from Mexico and South Korea as well. In the first quarter of 2017, U.S. companies bought 32 percent more robots than the same period last year, according to data from the Robotic Industries Association. The reason for the increase? Robots have become cheaper. Adidas announced that it is opening a new factory in Georgia that will be highly robotized, with about 160 human workers. Adidas is a German company that never manufactured shoes in the United States before. Marlin Steel, for example, in Baltimore was able to stay in business by automating its production to stay competitive when many other manufacturing jobs went overseas. Robots make manufacturing in the United States more efficient and thus more competitive. Concerns about Automation Aren't New Workers have been worrying about automation wiping out jobs for centuries. The Luddites were a group of English textile workers and weavers in the 19th century who destroyed weaving machinery as a form of protest. Ninety-eight percent of the work of a weaver became automated. and understandably, the workers rebelled. However, over a period of years the number of textile workers actually grew. At the beginning of the 19th century, it was so expensive to make apparel that a typical person had one outfit of clothing. As costs started dropping because of automation, people started buying more and more, so that by the 1920s the average person was consuming ten times as much cloth per capita per year. More demand for cloth meant a greater need for textile workers. In 1900, 41% of American workers were employed in agriculture, but by 2000, automated machinery, such as tractors and harvesting equipment, brought that down to just 2%, MIT professor David Autor wrote in the Journal of Economic Perspectives in 2015. Farmers moved to cities and took other jobs while food became less expensive. The arrival of the automobile ushered out horses, reducing the need for blacksmiths and stable hands, but the auto industry created many more jobs than the horse-drawn economy lost. In the 21st century, computers are performing tasks humans once did, making workers more productive. When ATMs were introduced in the 1970s, people thought they would be the death knell for bank tellers. The number of tellers per bank did fall, but because ATMs reduced the cost of operating a bank branch, more branches opened, which in turn hired more tellers. U.S. bank teller employment rose by 50,000 from 1980 to 2010. The Future of American Jobs Are we headed for a 15-hour work-week? That's what noted economist John Maynard Keynes predicted in his famous 1930 essay Economic Possibilities for Our Grandchildren. He said that in the next century technology would make us so productive we wouldn't know what to do with all our leisure time. It hasn't quite worked out that way yet, but we do have shorter hours now than 80 years ago. As a nation, we should strive for a shorter work-week. Americans work longer hours than workers in Europe where a 35-hour work-week is the norm. Europeans also enjoy six weeks of vacation, while Americans have two weeks off per year. Robots may cause a loss of jobs in Asia by replacing workers who do routine, monotonous work. But in wealthy countries, like the United States, robots will create jobs and increase efficiency, much like farm equipment liberated farmers and farm children to do other things. Joel Joseph Social Media Pages: CEO of California Association for Recycling All Trash, www.Calrecycles.com and CEO of Genuine-American Merchandise & Equipment, www.genuine-american.com, manufacturers of tennis equipment in the USA (Tennis Wellbow, Good Vibe vibration (more...) The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors. OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help. If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership. This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. Once upon a time, long ago in another universe, the end of the world was left in the hands of the gods, not human beings. Today, however, humanity, in its curious ingenuity, has managed to come up with two ways of destroying itself, as well as the very habitat that welcomed and nourished it all these eons. For the first of these, two dates suffice: August 6th and 9th, 1945. Those were, of course, the moments when the primordial power of the split atom was first released directly on the human populations (and cityscapes) of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Not long after, the two Cold War superpowers began to create vast arsenals of such weaponry, ever more powerful, ever more destructive, that could, if released in a full-scale nuclear war, annihilate not just humanity but much of the world (and possibly two or three more Earth-sized planets in the bargain). This was, in the phrase of the era, "the unthinkable" and, as TomDispatchregular Rebecca Gordon reminds us today, those of us growing up in the Cold War years couldn't stop thinking the unthinkable. Unlike that version of Armageddon, consciously organized, planned out, tested, and financed by the American and then Soviet governments (which would, when all its implications were clear, be replicated by a host of other powers ranging from China and Great Britain to Israel and North Korea), the second human apocalypse was essentially inadvertent. It caught us unawares. It turned out that, once burned, coal and oil, the energy sources that powered the industrial revolution and so changed forever the nature of our lives, were also putting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These would cumulatively warm the planet in ways guaranteed to devastate humanity -- not in an instant but over hundreds of years in what can only be imagined as a slow-motion Armageddon. Think of these two apocalypses as nuclear winter (an effect of nuclear war, not known in 1945, in which even a regional nuclear exchange could devastate the planet) and climate change summer with, as we've experienced this year in the U.S., its extreme weather, fierce droughts, raging wildfires, and rising sea levels. What makes this moment in the first year of the age of Trump so extreme is that our strange new president, a man ready to turn everything (even the dead of America's wars) into a win-lose contest centered on himself, has taken the accumulated knowledge of the two potential human apocalypses and essentially tossed them out the window of Trump Tower. It's possible, in other words, that the guy with the orange comb-over, the jut jaw, the thinnest of skins, and the most limited of vocabularies -- and his urge to inflict "fire and fury" and his fervent rejection of the very existence of climate change -- may be the true apocalyptic god of our era. It's a hard thought to take in, but let Rebecca Gordon, TomDispatch's expert in "forever wars," lend a hand on the nuclear part of the equation. Tom Trump's Nuclear Dreams Nightmares Past and Present By Rebecca Gordon Preventing a nuclear war between the United States and North Korea may be the most pressing challenge facing the world right now. Our childish, ignorant, and incompetent president is shoving all of us -- especially the people of Asia -- ever nearer to catastrophe. While North Korea probably hasn't yet developed the missiles to deliver a nuclear warhead to the U.S. mainland, it certainly has the capacity to reach closer targets, including South Korea and Japan. But what can ordinary people do about it? Our fingers are far removed from the levers of power, while the tiny digits of the man occupying the "adult day care center" we call the White House hover dangerously close to what people my age used to call "the Button." Nevertheless, I think there may still be time to put our collective foot on the brakes, beginning with the promise of a bill currently languishing in Congress. Meanwhile, many of us who were born in the post-World War II years are re-experiencing nightmares we thought we'd left safely in the past. Duck and Cover I was born seven years after the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Like the rest of my generation of Americans, I grew up in the shadow -- or perhaps more accurately, the glow -- of "the Bomb" (which, in those days, we did indeed capitalize). I remember the elementary school ritual of joining a line of neat, obedient second-graders crouching on knees and elbows against a protective concrete hallway wall, hands covering the backs of our necks. I remember coming home from school, recounting that day's activities to my mother and watching as she rushed to the bathroom to vomit -- her all-too-literal gut reaction to a world in which her children were being prepared in school for global annihilation. In class, we saw civil defense films produced by the government, like the one that encouraged us to "set aside a small supply of canned goods" in makeshift basement shelters. "They're safe from radioactivity," the narrator assured us, as a lovely, young, white mother confidently placed the last can firmly on the cupboard shelf. (The film was far less enlightening about what to do once that "small supply" ran out.) Other movies reminded us that we should always be aware of the location of the nearest fallout shelter or taught us how to duck and cover. By 1961, my family had moved from rural New York State to Washington, D.C., where my mother got a job with the brand new Peace Corps. Everywhere in my new city I saw the distinctive black-and-yellow signs indicating fallout shelter locations. The student body at Alice Deal Junior High School was too big for hallway drills. Instead, at the appointed time, we would all be herded into the auditorium, where a solemn-faced principal would describe the secret underground shelter where we would all be safe, should the Soviets actually launch a nuclear attack on our country. I remember bursting out laughing, while my homeroom teacher fixed me with an angry stare. Who was the principal kidding? We lived in Washington, the number one political target of any potential Soviet nuclear strike. Even then, I was aware enough to know that, whether above ground or under it, we would either fry immediately or die of radioactive poisoning thereafter. In my family, we joked about bomb shelters. We knew they wouldn't save us. So I remember being shocked when, in the early 1960s, we visited the family of a friend of my mother's named Yarmolinsky. We kids were all sent out to play behind their suburban Virginia home, where my brother and I stumbled upon a large dome in the middle of the woods. "What's that?" we asked our new friends. "Oh, that's our fallout shelter," one of them replied. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). From Consortium News The revelation that Hillary Clinton's campaign and the Democratic National Committee helped pay for the notorious "Steele Dossier" of hearsay claims about Donald Trump's relations with Russia is not surprising but is noteworthy, given how long the mystery about the funding was allowed to linger. Another mild surprise is that the Clinton campaign would have had a direct hand in the financing rather than maintaining an arm's length relationship to the dossier by having some "friend of the campaign" make the payments and giving Clinton more deniability. Instead, the campaign appears to have relied on its lawyer, Marc E. Elias of Perkins Coie, and a confidentiality agreement to provide some insulation between Clinton and the dossier's startling claims which presumably helped inform Clinton's charge in the final presidential debate that Trump was Russian President Vladimir Putin's "puppet." Indeed, how much Clinton personally knew about the dossier and its financing remains an intriguing question for investigators. Ultimately, the facts about who commissioned the dossier were forced out by a congressional Republican subpoena seeking the bank records of Fusion GPS, the opposition research firm that hired former British intelligence operative Christopher Steele to compile the opposition research, known as "oppo," against Trump. As part of the legal wrangling over that subpoena, the Clinton/DNC law firm, Perkins Coie, wrote a letter releasing Fusion GPS from its confidentiality agreement. After that letter, The Washington Post reported on Tuesday night that the Clinton campaign and the DNC had helped fund the Steele effort with attorney Elias retaining Fusion GPS in April 2016 and with Fusion GPS then hiring Steele. The Post reported that "people familiar with the matter" disclosed that outline of the arrangement but still would not divulge how much the Clinton campaign and the DNC paid to Fusion GPS. One source told me that the total amount came to about $1 million. "Trash for Cash" An irony about Hillary Clinton's role in funding allegations about Trump's connection to the Russians, including claims that he cavorted with prostitutes in a five-star Moscow hotel while Russian intelligence operatives secretly filmed him, is that the Clinton camp bristled when Bill Clinton was the subject of Republican "oppo" that surfaced salacious charges against him. The Clintons dismissed such accusations as "cash for trash." The New York Times building in Manhattan. (Image by (Photo credit: Robert Parry)) Details DMCA Nevertheless, just as conspiratorial accusations about the Clintons gave rise to the Whitewater investigation and a rash of other alleged "scandals," which bedeviled Bill Clinton's presidency, the Steele Dossier -- also known as the "Dirty Dossier" -- provided a map that investigators have followed for the ongoing Russia-gate investigation into President Trump. Much like those Clinton allegations, Steele's accusations have had a dubious track record for accuracy, with U.S. government investigators unable to corroborate some key claims but, I'm told, believing that some are true nonetheless. In the 1990s, even though the core allegations of wrongdoing about the Clintons and their Whitewater land deal collapsed, the drawn-out investigation eventually unearthed Bill Clinton's sexual relationship with White House intern Monica Lewinsky and led to his impeachment in the House although he was acquitted in a Senate trial. Some Democrats have openly hoped for the impeachment of President Trump, too, and they have hitched many of those hopes to the Russia-gate bandwagon. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Enemies of Kurd and Kurdistan are only afraid of PKK forces. And ask yourself as Kurds why enemies are afraid of Abdullah Ocalan teaching? On Sunday, Oct 15, 2017, Iraqi PM Haider al-Abadi's cabinet accused the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq (KRG) of deploying non-Peshmerga fighters in Kirkuk, including members of the Turkish Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which it said was tantamount to a "declaration of war". But KRG officials denied this. Why Iraqi government called on Iran and Turkey to help them against Kurdish forces in Kirkuk but Barzani and Talabani's traitors were not allowed to call on Kurds from other countries to help them. Is denying PKK forces present in Kirkuk helped Barzani and Talabani partnership with Iraqi Arab Shi'a government? Corrupt Barzani and Talabani mafia families divided Kurdish people for Persian of Tamil, Arabs of Africa and Turks of Mongolia to stay in power in last 57 years. Every member of Barzani and Talabani thieves are millionaires and billionaires now. Why they are not going to Israel to enjoy life, what else they want from poor Kurdish people. It is time for Kurdish people in that part of Kurdistan to join 'Freedom Movement of Kurdistan Society (FMKS or Kurdish: TEVGERI AZADI), to learn the teaching of Abdullah Ocalan. Only the path of Abdullah Ocalan can unite Kurd and Kurdistan. Remember this Barzani and Talabani thieves and liars never wanted to unite Kurd and Kurdistan for you. In last 57 years, they used Kurd and Kurdistan as the business. They sold out Kurd and Kurdistan to be rich and famous. They are now rich and famous and you Kurd and no Kurds in Kurdistan are suffering. Reference Kirkuk: Iraqi forces capture key sites from Kurds .bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-41631697 Progressive Content Not Found Sometimes, authors delete their progressive content after publishing. To see if the progressive content was renamed or re-published, please click here. From Robert Reich Blog The old Democratic and Republican parties are exploding. When you take a closer look, America actually has six political parties right now: 1. Establishment Republicans, consisting of large corporations, Wall Street, and major GOP funders. Their goal is to have their taxes cut. 2. Anti-establishment Republicans, consisting of Tea Partiers, the Freedom Caucus, and libertarians. Their goal is to have a smaller government with shrinking deficits and debts. Many of them also want to get Big Money out of politics and end crony capitalism. 3. Social conservative Republicans -- evangelicals and rural Southern whites. They want America to return to what they call "Christian" values. 4. Establishment Democrats -- corporate and Wall Street executives and upper middle-class professionals. They'd also like a tax cut, but they believe in equal rights. 5. Anti-establishment Democrats -- younger, grassroots movement types, and progressives who still call themselves Democrats. Their biggest issues are widening inequality, racism, sexism, and climate change. They also want to get Big Money out of politics and they reject crony capitalism. 6. The sixth party is Trump. This party consists of Donald J. Trump and his fanatical followers. Trump's goal is to get more money for himself, get more power for himself, get more attention to himself, and get even. Whoever can put together elements of a governing coalition among these six parties will win future elections. One possibility is a coalition of anti-establishment Democrats who want to get big money out of politics and who reject crony capitalism, and anti-establishment Republicans who want the same. The other possible coalition is establishment Democrats who want their taxes cut and establishment Republicans who want the same. Robert Burns and Matthew Pennington of the Associated Press tell us: "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." Why momentous? North Korea has in the past been successfully so persuaded. And it's subsequently been antagonized and threatened until it recommenced. This has gone on for decades, while it's been 64 years since a peace treaty should have been signed that never has been. It's been 14 years since North Korea resumed building nukes. It's been ten grueling months of Trump's regime during which nasty comments and threats have been passed back and forth across the Pacific schoolyard. What makes this moment momentous? Stay tuned. AP will explain. "Is diplomacy failing? Is war approaching?" Is the wind blowing? Are you kidding? Are diplomacy and war external forces that impose themselves on humanity? North Korea has been very clear and reasonable in its demands, even while screaming its threats and defiance. If the United States will stop moving missiles and planes and ships close to a country it once destroyed, and stop threatening to destroy it again, North Korea will discuss doing what Iraq and Libya did before they were attacked: disarming. The question is not "Is war approaching?" "Ominously!" The question is: will Trump and his subordinates continue to refuse to negotiate? Will they insist on war? "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. 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." Did this person really speak darkly? What did it sound like? Were they using the dictionary definition of "imminent," and if so on what basis? Or were they using the White House Office of Legal Counsel definition of "imminent," meaning "theoretically could occur within the millennium"? Can't the United States launch nuclear ICBMs? Can't Russia? China? What is unprecedented? "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." So, the Associated Press can see the future? And it sees there, very soon, North Korean nuclear missiles that can hit the United States? And the path away from this is "diplomacy and pressure" -- a phrase that suggests a lack of comprehension of what diplomacy is? It is not "Hello, sir, I'm here to respectfully discuss how we can work things out, and I'm constantly kicking you in the ass purely because that's how I respectfully warn people what's coming if they don't comply. Now, what do you believe needs to be done? Kindly bend over a bit. There we go." Has the AP heard that Tillerson's efforts in this regard were further sabotaged, as if they needed it, by Captain Twitter Master, whom Tillerson reportedly called a moron, while the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said the president believed he was living inside a television show, but the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee pitched in by proposing to exterminate North Koreans, whom the President merely wants to "totally destroy"? "'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.'" There it is. That's why this moment is momentous. The U.S. military has set a deadline for war, and if they don't launch a war by then, well, well . . . well, then there won't be a war yet, that's what! Imagine if the U.S. had waited for the Taliban to turn bin Laden over to be put on trial, or given the inspectors a few more days in Iraq, or allowed a peace settlement with Gadaffi -- where would we all be then, I ask you? Suburban Washington, D.C., wouldn't be crawling with the luxury automobiles of newly wealthy weapons dealers, that's what. Momentous. "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.'" The emphasis is on the Endowment, not the Peace. A nation that is arming in response to threats and coercion doesn't disarm in response to more coercion. Would the United States? "'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." Thanks for acknowledging that. How does it fit with the storyline of the noble but futile pursuit of coerced diplomacy racing against the clock? Couldn't the clock be turned back by Trump tweeting one nice thing or being impeached, or Congress forbidding war, or the South Korean government living up to its promise and booting the U.S. military out? That is, doesn't the clock have numerous buttons and dials that can be manipulated? It's not a magical clock, is it? "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." Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). 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. Franklin Lamb, Oxford, October 26, 2017 [Part 1: Is Lebanon's economy heading for free-fall?] Part 2: Granting Palestinians the right to work can salvage Lebanon's economy: Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, the offspring of nearly 800,000 ethnically cleansed from their homes in Palestine during the 1948-50 Nakba, are today variously labeled by their Lebanese hosts as refugees or sometimes described as a particular category of "quasi-residents." Or as "foreigners" or sometimes during Arab emotional nationalist events or rising national sentiments or Israeli attacks, Palestinians have been described more congenially as "Arab residents" or "Arab brothers." Or at other times they are claimed by 'Resistance" factions as "Our religious, moral and political duty to liberate and return to Palestine." And sometimes Palestinians in Lebanon are labeled by yet other "Resistance Brand" elements as "Sunni Terrorists" and "Takfires" who support other 'terrorists' (rebels and civilians) in the Syrian Civil war next door and who consequently must be eradicated per certain questionable Hadith offerings weakly attributed to Mohammad the Prophet (PBUH). But whatever the label pasted on Palestinian refugees in sectarianized and Shia-Sunni split Lebanon, they are today often thought of by certain sects with power in Parliament as some kind of parasitic outlaws. Nothing could be further from the truth and this assertion shall be demonstrated beyond cavil once Lebanon understands the benefits that will accrue to their economy if Palestinians are granted their internationally mandated elementary civil right to work. As noted in Part I of this report, Lebanon's economy continues to weaken as foreign investors pull back, internal sectarian turmoil swells and World Bank and IMF indexes of Lebanon's economic future increasingly reminds one of the 2009 economic shut-down in Greece. Politicizing Palestinian access to Lebanon's economy Today, approximately 230.000 Palestinian refugees are housed in 12 camps and 42 gatherings across Lebanon. The vast majority live under harsh and deteriorating conditions with high poverty rates, and collapsing infrastructure and housing conditions. They have very limited access to quality services and social protection. In addition they are subjected to discriminatory laws and regulations including being denied by Lebanon's Parliament the internationally mandated civil right to work or own a home outside of their squalid camps. Historically the Palestinians and the Lebanese have had deep economic relations even prior to the exodus of Palestinians from their sacred homeland. Thousands of Lebanese sought employment opportunities in Palestine. And because they were granted the same civil right to work that today Lebanon is legally obliged to grant Palestinians, the Lebanese were well integrated within Palestine's economy and many prospered. Allowing Palestinians in Lebanon the right to work is viewed by most people of goodwill and virtually all tenets of international humanity law, as simply fair based on this fact alone. Expulsion from their lands and homes forced the entry of Palestinians into Lebanon which began five years after Lebanon had proclaimed its independence from France. As argued by many who have studied the subject including scholar and this observer's student, Jaber Suileman, the arriving Palestinians provided capital and labor which in large part helped build the Lebanese economy. In addition to augmenting the labor force, Palestinian refugees had been owners of banks, companies, heavily involved in trade, and known for their business acumen. During 72 months of their ethnic cleansing by occupying Zionist gangs, Palestinians transferred more than 200,000,000 sterling pounds into Lebanon. This cash infusion was vital to the new state of Lebanon and exceeded by four times the then value of the Lebanese economy. Roughly two decades later, the Palestinian fueled economy in Lebanon had grown massively with scores of thousands of job creations and its budget exceeded that of the Lebanese state itself. However, given other exigencies, the PLO leadership was not much involved with long term investments but rather focused on providing for the short-term needs of the camp residents. And since the PLO was the major employer they did not feel especial urgency about developing a long term plan to guarantee, by Parliamentary decree, the enactment the elementary civil right to work for Palestinians in Lebanon. Frankly it was not a big issue at the time given the political and economic power of the PLO and the reality of the Lebanese job market being fully open to Palestinians. Yet, as all dear readers know, times change. With the withdrawal of the PLO from Lebanon in August of 1982, (with this observer on one of their boats headed to Tunis), as a consequence of the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon and Israel's local and international allies which included certain Lebanese sects, a reign of terror was organized by Lebanon's Deuxiume Bureau (Military Intelligence). It was during this period that the Amal Militia under the leadership of Lebanon's current Speaker of Parliament now in his 25 th year sinecure commanded the 1985-88 Palestinian Camp Massacres, on instructions emanating from elements Syrian elements. The tradeoff was cover for Berri's knowledge of the Imam Musa Sadr, Peace be upon him, murder in Libya a few years earlier. Nabeh Berri profited financially and politically from pleading ignorance about "the vanished Imam" during the subsequent four decades about who ordered Libya's Gadhafi to 'disappear Imam Sadr." Consequently Berri was green-lighted to assume the leadership of Musa Sadr's Amal organization and the post of Speaker of Lebanon's Parliament. Imam Musa Sadr's murder changed the course of Middle East history for the worst, given his ability and beliefs for bridge building among Sunni, Shia and Christians and his general moderation and rejection of Political Theocracy which is so rampant today. A reign of terror in post PLO power target Lebanon's Palestinians As the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon were increasingly targeted after the PLO leadership withdrew, a decision was taken to exclude them from internally mandated civil rights that every refugee on the planet is accorded. Among the shut employment doors for Palestinians, which would substantially block them from growing Lebanon's economy via employment and job expansion, is the right to work in 20 professions. In order to exclude Palestinians, all main professions require that applicants have Lebanese nationality. Professional Associations now barred to Palestinians in Lebanon include those in which they have historically excelled. The professions in Lebanon which by political design excludes Palestinians are Lebanon's Bar Association, Association of Doctors, Pharmacists, Dentists, Engineers, Media, Association of Editors, Banks, Association of Manufacturers, Accounting, Associations of Hospitals, Tourism Agencies in Lebanon (ATTA1), Association of Printing, Syndicate of Hotels Owners in Lebanon , Syndicate of Pilots in Lebanon, Association of Insurance Companies, Syndicate of the Manufacture of Gold and Jewelry, Syndicate of Public Works and Constructing Contractors in Lebanon, Association of Licensed Topographers in Lebanon, and Association of the Union of Publishers. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). From Palestine Chronicle Hamas and Fatah leaders at previous talks to end their ongoing conflict. (Image by (Photo: via Twitter)) Details DMCA 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. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). The House of Representatives recently passed a bill that limits legal abortion availability to 20 weeks of fetal gestation. Whether it can pass the Senate is a matter up in the air, but of ocurse as everyone on both sides of the abortion-rights knows, this Act is a direct assault on the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision of 1973. The essence of Roe v. Wade was that, until the generally accepted time of fetal viability outside the womb, 24 weeks, women were to have freedom of choice in the outcome of pregnancy. The anti-abortion-rights movement lay fairly low during the 1970s. It began ramping up with the advent of the Reagan Administration. In the 1980 campaign, Candidate Reagan and the leadership of the Republican Party decided to use the issue to as one means of bringing the then-developing Political Religious Right further into the Party. Indeed, one the prices that Reagan demanded of George H.W. Bush in return for the Vice-Presidential nomination was that he and his wife Barbara leave their long-held seats of the Board of Texas Planned Parenthood. The pro-choice forces have been gradually losing the battle ever since. There are a variety of reasons for this state of affairs. One is in the realm of terminology. The pro-choice movement has stuck with that phrase rather than focusing on rights, as in "abortion rights," which in fact was at the center of Roe v. Wade, which was decided on a "right to privacy" interpretation of the 14th Amendment. Then, at least certain elements of the abortion rights movement allowed the anti-choicers to get away with the use of the term "pro-life," sometimes themselves even calling the anti-choicers "pro-life." Which gets to the essence of the problem and why the abortion rights movement is on its way to losing the battle on the national level. Indeed, as is well-known, in many states where the anti-abortion-rights movement is politically powerful, and through a variety of legislative acts has vastly limited the availability of legal abortion, functionally the abortion-rights forces have already lost. This is at least in part because, with a few exceptions here and there, the abortion-rights forces have stayed with the "right-to-choose" argument (with which I fully agree), without using any others. And there is a big one out there, waiting to be mobilized. But for one reason or another (and I would very much like to hear what they are) the abortion rights movement, at least its leading organizations like the National Abortion Rights Action League, refuse to go there. And that is the issue of religious authoritarianism. The position of the anti-abortion-rights forces is based exclusively on the religious concept of "when life begins." And it is a religious concept. In fact, to support it, the anti-abortion-rights movement most often cites the "inerrant word of God" as found in the Bible. That the version most often cited by the anti-choicers is the King James version, an English translation created in the early 17th century by a 52-member committee of scholars and theologians, is a point often missed by the "inerrantists" (and their critics as well). If the King James version were to be regarded as "inerrant," one would have to assume that "God" spoke through every one of them. And, of course, what does that say about all of the other versions, appearing in numerous translations from the original Aramaic, Hebrew, Greek and Latin? It should also be noted that the man who made the first English translation of the Bible, one William Tyndale, in 1536 was burned at the stake, in England, for having the temerity to do so. What the Republican Religious Right wants to do is right out of the 16th century: put the power of the State and the criminal law behind one particular set of religious doctrines. What we have here is the refusal of the pro-choice/abortion-rights side to address this fundamental question: are religious fundamentalists going to be allowed to set social policy on one of the oh-so-many matters of personal being and belief, based solely on the religious dogmas that they personally adhere to. They so desperately want their religious beliefs to set social policy that they advocate the employment of the criminal law to do so. Not only that, but the anti-abortion-rights doctrine, religion-based as it is, ignores the fact that many women who seek abortions, and their male partners, are themselves religious. They simply have a different set of religious beliefs than do the Fundamentalists and the Dominionists (like the current Vice-President of the United States).: Since the time of Reagan, the Republican Party has hacked away at abortion rights, primarily at the state level, using that hacking, of course, for entirely political purposes, to bring to is side the anti-abortion-rights Religious Right. For decades they have been led into battle by describing themselves as "Pro-life," which, when referring to fetuses is an entirely religious concept. And the pro-choice movement has stayed primarily with the original, feminist, argument that the woman's body is hers to control and that the choice of whether or not to have an abortion, within the accepted limits of Roe v. Wade (which prescriptions abortion-rights opponents have never themselves accepted), is based on the woman's rights to choose. But this very limited strategy has failed over time. Now, let me make it clear that I am firmly in favor of the "woman's right to choose" and the "woman's right to control her own body" arguments. But they are not politically-winning ones, and politically-winning ones is what our side desperately needs. What I am saying here that it is time (if it is not already too late) to vastly broaden the defense, in fact to go on the attack against the anti-choicers. This can be done using four words: "Republican Party; Religious Authoritarianism." This where the pro-choice movement must go, if in more-and-more states, abortion will become a practical impossibility, especially in the second trimester in which, given the language of Roe, states can choose to interfere. But, if your interpretation of the Bible is that the fetus is "alive" in the post-birth sense, then you shouldn't have an abortion. But neither should you be allowed, in a nation governed by civil law (as the United States supposedly is, but as the forces of organized religion gain strength after strength on issue after issue, like allowable discrimination in the marketplace for good and services, one has to wonder), you force your view down my throat through the use of the criminal law. Whether the penalties, were abortion to be formally criminalized, would fall on the person preforming the abortion or on the woman receiving it, or both, is irrelevant. The anti-abortion-rights forces are engaging in Religious Authoritarianism. They are using their religious beliefs as the foundation for their campaign to change the law governing everyone. Interestingly enough, the modern position of the Roman Catholic Church on abortion was only established, by Pope Pius IX, in 1869. He reversed the long-time Church position, established from the time of St. Augustine and reinforced by St. Thomas Aquinas, that abortion was OK up to the time of "quickening" (16-20 weeks). Also, it was Pius IX who established the Doctrine of Papal Infallibility. But this is what the pro-choice forces must begin to hammer away on if the battle is not to be irretrievably lost. It is a matter of religious liberty, but not the "religious liberty" of the discriminators (a brand-new Republican argument). It is the religious liberty of everyone, including that of the abortion-seekers (and to be sure there are many) who are themselves quite religious (the same principle applies to contraceptive-users), that is at stake here. Of course, once that principle is recognized, then the battle -- over whether religious authoritarianism is to become the basis of the law of the land --- and then who knows what's next on the agenda of the Religious Right -- a religious test for political office seekers, which violates Article VI of the Constitution already seems to be there. The matter of what religious liberty really is in our nation is one that concerns everyone, male and female. And then the fight has to be taken to THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, especially as Dominionists such as Vice-President Pence and Senators Cruz and Rubio, are coming to the fore. By putting religious authoritarianism at the center of its political doctrine, it has become the enemy of freedom across the board in this country. This is where the abortion-rights movement has to go, if it is to have any hope of reversing its losses and eventually winning the battle. Of course, this is where the progressive political forces have to go as well. But that is another story. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From The Nation Nothing Donald Trump says to attack journalism is so dangerous as what Trump's chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Ajit Pai, does to attack journalism. Pai has already used his position to threaten the quality and character of the democratic discourse on the Internet -- by seeking to undermine net neutrality -- and now he proposes to put a corporate stranglehold on the discourse in communities across the United States. Since 1975, the FCC has banned media cross-ownership at the local level. What this means is that -- except in rare cases where waivers are issued -- one company cannot own a newspaper, a television station and radio stations in the same market. This rule was established to prevent the creation of "one newsroom" towns by media conglomerates that have for decades wanted to cut costs by buying up print and broadcast media outlets, combining their news operations and then dramatically reducing the number of local reporters, editors and on-air personalities. Related rules have maintained limits on the number of radio and television stations a media company could buy up and then dumb down -- by eliminating local programming and filling the airwaves with strictly formatted music and nationally-syndicated (and often rigidly right-wing) talk shows On Wednesday, Pai announced that the FCC would vote as soon as November on a proposal to eliminate the cross-ownership rules and usher in a new era of media monopoly. For the better part of two decades, efforts to gut the rules have been blocked by grassroots groups representing consumers, journalists and democracy advocates. But Pai is moving quickly in hopes that he can avoid the sort of mass mobilization of citizens that -- with an assist from the federal courts -- derailed an effort by the Bush administration to overturn the cross-ownership rules. As is common with Trump appointees who advance deregulation schemes that serve the interests of monopolistic corporations, Pai is employing Orwellian doublespeak in an attempt to fool Americans into thinking he wants to open up the media landscape. "We must stop the federal government from intervening in the news business," he told a House Commerce subcommittee oversight hearing on Wednesday. Click Here to Read Whole Article From Our Future Economically, culturally, strategically, and morally, Donald Trump's obsessive efforts to ban Muslim immigrants and refugees from the United States have impoverished us all. His most recent attempt proves it. On Tuesday, a federal judge in Hawaii partially blocked Trump's third attempt at a Muslim ban, saying that it failed to provide "sufficient findings" to support the argument that allowing immigration from six Muslim-majority nations would harm the United States. The judge, Derrick K. Watson, cited a Trump campaign document that said, "Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States." On Wednesday a judge in Maryland issued a similar ruling, calling the Administration's actions "an inextricable re-animation of the twice-enjoined Muslim ban." Trump's record is unambiguous. He has issued a long-running stream of ignorant and bigoted comments against Muslims, including: "I think Islam hates us." (It does not.) "We have a problem in this country; it's called Muslims. We know our current president (Obama) is one." (We do not. He is not.) "I watched when the World Trade Center came tumbling down. And I watched in Jersey City, N.J., where thousands and thousands of people were cheering as that building was coming down." (They did not.) Candidate Trump said that he would not rule out creating a database of all Muslims in the country. He said he would expel all Syrian refugees, despite the fact that it was American military policy that made them refugees in the first place. He said, "They could be ISIS, I don't know. This could be one of the great tactical ploys of all time. "Later he said, "This could make the Trojan horse look like peanuts." If you say you're going to discriminate against all members of a certain religion, and then keep issuing travel bans that almost exclusively affect only members of that religion, it turns out that judges remember what you said, take you at your word, and conclude that's what you meant to do. Trump argues that his ban makes us safer, but a bipartisan group of national security officials filed an affidavit in response to his first attempt at a Muslim ban that said, in part... "We view the Order as one that ultimately undermines the national security of the United States, rather than making us safer ... It could do long-term damage to our national security and foreign policy interests, endangering U.S. troops in the field and disrupting counterterrorism and national security partnerships. It will aid ISIL's propaganda effort and serve its recruitment message by feeding into the narrative that the United States is at war with Islam ... It will have a damaging humanitarian and economic impact on the lives and jobs of American citizens and residents." Some of these officials oversaw highly aggressive and ill-advised military actions in the Middle East, as well as substantial intrusions into civil liberties at home. They are not predisposed to "give peace a chance," or to err on the side of privacy and other ideals. They may not be credible on every issue, but if they say Trump's ban makes us less safe, there's every reason to believe them. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). By Hamma Mirwaisi American scholar Michael Rubin as an expert on Kurds and the Middle East published an article asking the same question above. And I wrote these few paragraph below but he deleted my comment. In America, we have freedom of speech and writing. As an American citizen, I want to ask the same question too, because American interest is important to me too. Here is what I wrote below as the comment on Mr. Rubin article, which is my question too now. The US Governments wrong policies of the past must be corrected toward Kurdistan now. Russian hatred toward the US is creating Iranian monster for the US interest in the Middle East and Part of Asia The US Governments helped create two monster families for Kurds in the 'Kurdistan Regional Governments of Iraq (KRG) region since 2003 of Iraq war. Barzani and Talabani mafia families must be damped forever by the US policymakers. The Barzani and Talabani tribal leadership are useless for Kurds and the US and others. They are not allied to anyone but dollars, who pay them they will follow dollars and they never get enough of it. To safeguard the US interest in the Middle East, the US administration must seek the alliance with Kurds who are followers of Abdullah Ocalan. Majority of Kurds in Kurdistan are followers of Abdullah Ocalan now. Russian alliance with Iran is challenging the US in the Middle East. It is more important for the US people interest than Korean region. Iran is in control of Iraq and Syria now. Turkey is not capable to challenge Russian-Iran alliances. Turkey does not have any influence among Iranian people to change Iran. Iran with atomic Bomb will destroy Israel. But greedy Israeli leadership they do not have the love for Israeli people. Only followers of Abdullah Ocalan can stop the danger of Russian-Iran alliances. Turks and Arab Sunni are useless in Iran. Majority of Iranian are Medes (Kurd, Lur, Taylish, Gilani, Mazandarani, Khorasani, Balouch and others) by blood. Persian and Azeri's are not capable to rule Iran forever. PJAK can bring down the Iranian Government because they are capable to unite Medes of Iran against Shi'a Sayyid Arab rulers of Iran. References Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). From Mike Malloy Website Donald Trump - Caricature (Image by DonkeyHotey) Details DMCA ...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. 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In the past five years or so, there has been an increasing trend of commercialization of herbs, which has also contributed to the growth of the market.In a bid to give readers clear and transparent insights on the growth of the market, the report has segmented the market on several parameters. Rosemary extracts are available in the market in powder and liquid form. Currently, the demand for powder rosemary extracts is higher as compared to liquid extracts. However, demand for liquid rosemary extracts is also significant, and by 2027, this segment is likely to account for over 46% revenue share of the market.Sales of rosemary extracts are largely concentrated through direct and indirect channels. Both these channels are highly attractive for manufacturers and will continue to remain so during the forecast period. Sales through direct channel are likely to remain dominant during the forecast period 2017-2027.Browse Full Report with TOC:On the basis of application, demand for rosemary extracts for use in personal care products continues to create growth opportunities. The personal care category will continue to remain lucrative for rosemary extracts manufacturers during the forecast period. The other lucrative application segment for rosemary extracts is pharmaceuticals.Some of the leading markets for rosemary extracts are the U.S., countries in APEJ, and countries in the Mediterranean. Some of the leading companies profiled in the report include Kerry Group Plc., Ajinomoto Co., Inc., Foodchem International Corporation, Givaudan SA, Symrise AG, Kalsec Inc., Frutarom Industries Ltd., Robertet SA, International Taste Solutions Ltd, Dohler GmbH Takasago International Corporation, Sensient Technologies Corporation, Archer Daniels Midland Company, Firmenich S A, Naturex SA, Organic Herb Inc., Olam International, McCormick and Company, Inc, Synthite Industries Ltd., British Pepper and spice Company.Enquire About this Report:About UsMarket Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of market intelligence reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords.MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. MRRSEs repository is updated every day to keep its clients ahead of the next new trend in market research, be it competitive intelligence, product or service trends or strategic consulting.ContactState Tower90, State StreetSuite 700Albany, NY - 12207United StatesTelephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.comWebsite: Global Alcoholic Beverages Market Poised to Grow at Over 6% CAGR through 2025, Beer Largest Selling Alcoholic Beverage Type MRRSE https://www.mrrse.com/sample/3529 https://www.mrrse.com/alcoholic-beverages-market https://www.mrrse.com/enquiry/3529 https://www.mrrse.com/ The global alcoholic beverages market is projected to grow at over 6% CAGR globally during the forecast period 2017-2025. A combination of global and regional factors is likely to impact the growth of the market during the forecast period. These insights are according to a new research report added to the repository of Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE). The report is titled Alcoholic Beverages Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2017 2025.Request Free Sample Report:There are a number of factors which are affecting the growth of the global alcoholic beverages market. These include growing urbanization, rising disposable income in developing countries, relaxing attitudes towards alcohol in conservative demographics, and easy access to alcohol through opening of alcohol shops and bars. Revenues generated through high volume sales especially in China and India will continue to add to global revenues; however, an interesting trend is shaping up in these high volume markets. Increasing awareness about the ingredients used in the manufacture of alcohol has led to surge in demand for mid-priced alcoholic beverages. For a long time, the demand was mainly concentrated in low-priced segment; however, the emergence of a strong middle class has led to evolution in preferences.According to the report, among the various types of alcoholic beverages, beer continues to enjoy popularity, as it is the drink-of-choice for millennials. Due to the less alcohol content and competitive pricing, sales of beer are likely to remain high during the forecast period. Further, the penetration of beer-only bars is higher than bars serving all types of alcohol, which again has been a catalyst for increased demand. According to the report, beer will continue to account for a leading share in terms of revenues. In 2017, the beer segment accounted for over 40% revenue share of the market, and the trend is likely to continue during the forecast period as well.Browse Full Report with TOC:Sales of alcoholic beverages through specialty stores will continue to be a leading source of revenue generation globally. According to the report, relaxation in the granting of license and less interference from red tape are likely to boost sales through specialty stores during the forecast period. However, the health risks associated with alcohol continue to remain a longstanding challenge. Excess consumption of alcohol has been linked with a number of diseases, and many states globally have toyed with the idea of enforcing a blanket ban on alcoholic beverages. The high revenue generated by government in the form of tax continues to prevent blanket bans; however, the high cost eventually gets passed on to the consumers, which again, creates challenges in widespread adoption. These factors are likely to impede the growth of the market during the forecast period.The leading companies profiled in the report include Asahi Group Holdings Ltd., Carlsberg A/S, Suntory Holdings Ltd., Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV, Brown-Foran Corporation, Molson Coors Brewing Co., Bacardi Limited, The Boston Beer Company Inc., Diageo Plc., Heineken Holding N.V., Constellation Brands Inc., Haelwood International Holdings Plc Craft Brew Alliance Inc., Pernod Ricard SA, The Wine Group LLC, United Breweries Limited, Accolade Wines Holdings Australia Pty Limited, DGB Pty Ltd., Bundaberg Brewed Drinks Pty Ltd., and Bronco Wine Company.Enquire About this Report:About UsMarket Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of market intelligence reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords.MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. MRRSEs repository is updated every day to keep its clients ahead of the next new trend in market research, be it competitive intelligence, product or service trends or strategic consulting.ContactState Tower90, State StreetSuite 700Albany, NY - 12207United StatesTelephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.comWebsite: Renewable/Bio Jet Fuel Market - Global Industry Insights, Trends, Outlook And Opportunity Analysis, 2017-2025 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/679 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/renewable-bio-jet-fuel-market-679 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-discount/679 http://www.coherentnews.com Bio jet is an aviation fuel made from renewable and naturally derived raw materials. It is mixed with petroleum jet fuel and is suitable for use in a jet engine. Biojet fuels have lower greenhouse gas emissions as compared to petroleum jet fuel. A major challenge for the bio jet market, however, is the lack of a viable source for the production of biofuels on a commercial scale which has resulted in the current high bio jet fuel prices, which is leading to the airline companies not buying bio jet fuel on a large scale.Request Sample Copy of this report:The need for the use of environmental friendly jet fuel in order to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from the aviation sector is a major driver for the bio jet market. The first test flight with bio jet fuel was completed in 2008 by Virgin Atlantic. Despite the need and airline support for bio jet, producers struggle to make renewable fuel cost-competitive with fossil fuels. Currently, biojet fuel is supplied through segregated logistics which leads to higher costs thus reducing its demand.Bio Jet Fuel TaxonomyBy category and pathwaysGas to jetFischer-Tropsch (FT)Gas FermentationSugar to jetCatalytic upgrading of sugar to jetDirect sugar biological to hydrocarbonsATJ alcohol to Jet fuelEthanol to jet(ETJ)Butanol to jet(BTJ)Oil to JetHydro processed Renewable JetHydro processes Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA)Catalytic hydrothermolysis.Hydrotreated depolymerized cellulosic jetOthersBy feedstockCellulosic cropsSugarOthersCellulosic wastes and residueCrop residueWood residueMunicipal solid wasteSeparated food wasteOthersOil cropsAlgalVegetable/Plant oilOthersOil wastes and residueAnimal fats/Waste oilGreasesCurrently blends of up to 50% bio jet fuel produced by either the Fischer-Tropsch (FT) process, the Hydro generated esters and fatty acids (HEFA) process or Synthesized Iso-Paraffins (SIP) are used with petroleum jet fuel as aviation fuel mandated by ASTM. HEFA is around 40% more expensive than petrojet, while renewable jet fuels produced by other methods are 60-70% more expensive than conventional petro jet fuel. Hence, bio jet fuel produced by HEFA is found to be more cost effective than other production methods.Market outlookThe bio jet fuel market is the largest in North America due to its reliance on the fast growing aviation market. The U.S. civil aviation sector accounts for a substantial share in the aviation bio jet market. The planned expansion of aviation biofuel producing industries, along with the support of the Federal Aviation Administration a national authority with powers to regulate all aspects of civil aviation are expected to increase the consumption of biojet fuels in this region. Initiatives taken by various organizations such as SAFN, MASBI are working towards developing cheaper and efficient bio jet fuels. The US Department of Agriculture(USDA), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and the Navy executed an MOU to invest up to US$ 510 million along with the private sector to produce drop-in renewable jet fuel to power military and commercial transportationView Full Report @In Europe, Oslo Airport became the first airport to offer jet bio-jet to all carriers through its usual supply mechanism in 2016. In the Netherlands in 2013, KLM, SkyNRG, Neste Oil, Schiphol Group, Port of Amsterdam and the Dutch government developed the BioPort Holland supply chain with an aim to boost the bio jet market in Europe. The EU Biofuels Flightpath has a target of producing two MM tones of renewable jet fuels every year by 2020, which is roughly 3%-4% of total jet fuel use in EuropeEmerging countries in the Asia-Pacific and Latin America region, such as India, China, and Brazil are expected to be major players in providing feedstock for aviation biofuel in the future. Also, China aims at reaching 7.5 billion gallons per year of aviation biofuel which will significantly boost the growth of the aviation biofuel market by 2020. In Australia, SkyNRG is working with Brisbane Airport since 2013 to convert it into the first bio port in the Asia-Pacific region.In January 2014 major companies such as Boeing, Etihad Airways, Takreer, Total along with Masdar Institute of Science and Technology teamed up for 'Biojet Abu Dhabi- Flight Path to Sustainability' developing a regional, sustainable aviation biofuel industry for the Middle East. In Africa, South African Airways with the help of SkyNRG, Boeing were able to fly the first biojet fuel in 2016.To Get Discount on this Report:The aviation industry is one of the strongest and fastest growing transport sectors. Due to the growing share of aviation to greenhouse gas emissions and orders issued by various governing bodies the upcoming bio jet market has a lot of potential to grow in the near future. However the bio jet market needs a continuous supply of feedstock at sufficient quantities and at low cost. It needs to be priced competitively with petroleum jet fuel. The increasing competition by other biofuel producers for feedstock will affect feedstock prices, thus hampering the growth of the bio jet fuel market. For the global commercialization of bio jet fuel the aviation sector will need to efficiently use the existing downstream infrastructure to lower transport and production costs. Key players operating in the global bio jet fuel market include Honeywell International Inc., Red Rock Biofuels, Targray Technology International Inc., Vega Biofuels, Argent Energy, GEVO, KFS Biodiesel GmbH & Co. KG, PetroSun, Inc., Shirke Energy, Archer Daniels Midland Company.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact UsMr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Website: Bio-butanol Market - Global Industry Insight, Trends, Outlook, Share and Forecast https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/696 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/bio-butanol-market-696 http://www.coherentnews.com Bio-butanol easily blends with gasoline due to its low vapor pressure. It contains as much as energy as gasoline and its non-corrosive nature gives it advantage over bioethanol.Bio-butanol is an alcohol, which is used as a fuel or organic solvent. It is prepared by fermentation of sugar, starch or cellulosic feedstock such as wheat, sugar beet, corn, straw, and wood. The purpose of using bio-butanol is to reduce consumption of crude oil. They have higher octane number, larger flammability limits, higher flash point and higher heat of vaporization. Bio-butanol easily blends with gasoline due to its low vapor pressure. It contains as much as energy as gasoline and its non-corrosive nature gives it advantage over bioethanol.Request Sample of Bio-butanol Market:Bio-butanol is also used as cleaner, adhesives, jet fuel, synthetic rubber, as a solvent in paints, bio-based plastics and fibers. They are also expected to meet 20% of the worlds fuel demands. The requirement for clean energy is the main driver for the use of bio-butanol.Bio-butanol fuel Market TaxonomyOn the basis of raw material, the bio-butanol market is classified into:WheatSugar beetCornStrawWoodOthersOn the basis of application, the bio-butanol market is classified into:AcrylatesAcetatesGlycol ethersSolventsPlasticizersOthersOn the basis of end users, the bio-butanol market is classified into:Petrochemical industryAutomobile industryAviation industryConsumer goodsTextile industryOthersThe raw materials used in process of bio-butanol are wheat, sugar beet, corn, straw and wood. The availability of raw material is a major concern with the bio-butanol preparation process. The properties like polymer chain formation, blending, paint and cleaner makes it applicable for the products such as acrylates, acetates, glycol ethers, solvent and plasticizer. Bio butanol is used as a fuel in internal combustion engines in petrochemical and automotive industry. Bio-butanol has the potential to reduce carbon emissions by 85% compared to gasoline. It is a possible large scale alternative to gasoline.Bio-butanol Market OutlookNorth America is the largest bio-jet fuel market due to the presence of low temperature weather in most of the countries followed by Western Europe which is second largest. Bio-butanol used in automobile sectors are the main reason for these largest market industry. Significant investment in R&D in these regions has resulted in alternatives for petroleum derived fuels.Asia Pacific is estimated to be the fastest growing market in the forecast period due to the population increase and demand for greener paints and coatings. India and China are expected to have the most demand in the bio-jet fuel market in the forecast period due to rise in the aviation and transportation segments.In Europe, demand for bio-butanol is increasing due to the government initiatives and stringent environmental regulations to shift away from petroleum products. These regulations are result of meeting the aims set out in Kyoto Protocol.In Middle East, the crude oil derived fuels such as gasoline, diesel, and kerosene and jet fuel are very cheap due to proximity to the resource. This makes it very difficult for bio-based alternatives to enter the market, as they are easily out priced.Check the Trending Report of Bio-butanol Market:Bio-butanol Market ChallengesThe variation in availability and cost of raw materials is a major problem as it increases the production cost of bio-butanol. Currently, bio-butanol costs more than bio ethanol. Also the government regulations against the use of raw material are the challenges for the bio butanol market.Some of the key companies dominating the market are Biobutanol include Bioenergy International, Butalco GmBH, Cobalt Biofuels and Arbor Biofuels backed by oil manufacturers like TetraVitae Biosciences and Metabolic Explorers.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact UsMr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200 Seattle,WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Website: Floating solar panels market to witness a steep CAGR of 45% over 2016-2024 https://www.fractovia.org/request-sample/403 https://www.fractovia.org/request-purchase/403 https://www.fractovia.org/news/industry-research-report/floating-solar-panels-market https://www.fractovia.org The world has been observing a linear shift toward the adoption of renewable energy, a factor that is majorly fueling floating solar panels market. Subject to deforestation and global warming, not to mention, the tremendous rise of urbanization and industrialization, the land availability across the globe has reduced drastically. This will lead to an increase in the adoption of floating panels, given the difficulty level for installing ground-mounted panels, thereby stimulating floating solar panels industry. Having had an installation capacity of 60 MW in 2015, floating solar panels market size, is predicted to cross 2.5 GW by the year 2024, according to Global Market Insights, Inc.Request for a sample of this research report @Major corporations across the globe have been striving to develop highly efficient and economical products to encourage increased adoption of these panels. The remarkable efforts by key participants such as Pristine Sun, Ciel & Terre, Solaris Synergy, Novaton AG, SPI Energy, Sunengy Pty, Yingli Solar, Vikram Solar, and Kyocera Corporation will lead global floating solar panels market to grow at a remarkable compound annual growth rate over the next few years. In fact, Kyocera Corporation recently completed the installation of the worlds largest solar power plant in Japan with a capacity of 14.5 MW. More than 4,900 of the countrys homes are likely to be powered with this plant in the years to come. In addition, the availability of less land coupled with the reduced availability of natural resources will also drive Japan floating solar panels industry, which earned over USD 14 billion in 2015.APAC floating solar panels market will be propelled mainly by China, Japan, and India. Driven by the rising investments on the installation of PV systems, China floating solar panels industry will earn USD 140 million by 2024, with a CAGR estimation of 30% over 2016-2024. U.S. floating solar panels market, on the other hand, is forecast to generate a revenue of USD 250 million by 2024, with a staggering CAGR of 67% over 2016-2024.Primarily augmented by the cost-effectiveness, floating stationary solar panels industry held over 90% of the overall revenue in 2015, and is expected to grow significantly over 2016-2024. Solar panels with a capacity between 1 to 5 MW are extensively utilized for large-scale photovoltaic projects, which will propel floating solar panel market size from 1 to 5 MW capacity. Owing to the huge investments by private and public parties, this industry is slated to surpass an installation volume of 700 MW by 2024.Make an inquiry for buying this report @The governments of various nations have been tirelessly working toward achieving extensive utilization of floating solar panels. In lieu of this fact, many of them have been providing supportive financial schemes such as feed-in tariffs, tax rebates, subsidies, and the like, which will augment on-grid floating solar panels market. Its counterpart, the off-grid connectivity segment, is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 30% over 2016-2024, fueling global floating solar panels industry.Floating solar panels, being a viable, efficient, and cost-friendly alternative to ground-mounted PV systems, are being adopted extensively all over, boosting floating solar panels market. In addition, stringent government rules to curb the GHG emissions will also propel this industry in the next few years.Browse key industry insights spread across 145 pages with 244 market data tables & 11 figures & charts from the report Floating Solar Panels Market 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: Soy Lecithin Market- Global Industry Insights, Trends, Outlook 2025 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/705 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/toc/705 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/soy-lecithin-market-705 Soy lecithin is an insulator, which reduces heat flow between high and low temperature materials. Soy lecithin is generally used in buildings as window insulating film, in mechanical systems, spacecraft, and automotive. Air being a poor thermal conductor, soy lecithin is used as an alternative to it in many thermal insulation applications. Soy lecithin traps gases and forms a layer of coating against heat. Also, soy lecithin reduces noise and vibrations.Soy lecithin is used as a wetting, stabilizing, and dispersing agent due to which it is widely used in the pharmaceutical industry. It is rich in fat and protein owing to which it finds application as animal feed. It is also used in paint industry as an antioxidant and wetting, suspending, emulsifying & stabilizing agent.Request a sample copy of this report:Soy lecithin Market TaxonomyOn the basis of grade, the soy lecithin market is classified into:Food gradeFeed gradePharmaceutical gradeIndustry gradeOthersOn the basis of function, the soy lecithin market is classified into:EmulsifierNutritional supplementsDispersantsWetting agentsViscosity modifierRelease aidSurfactantsOthersOn the basis of application, the soy lecithin market is classified into:Food & BeveragesIndustrialAutomotive & AerospaceConstructionPaintsOthersPharmaceuticalsSoy lecithin is largely used in food, industrial as well as pharmaceutical industries due to the rich protein content and protective cover formation property.Access Table of Content (TOC) of the report:Soy Lecithin Market OutlookAsia Pacific is estimated to be the largest and fastest growing market in the forecast period owing to the high demand for the product and abundance of raw materials. India and China contribute significantly to the market growth in the region. The forecasted growth is backed by the immense demand for the product from food, construction, and paint industriesNorth America is the second largest market of soy lecithin. The market growth is primarily supported by the rising demand for protein-rich as well as processed food. Busy life schedules of modern society has augmented the demand for packaged nutritional supplements, which in turn boosts the demand for soy lecithinEurope is an emerging market in the global soy lecithin market. The rising use of cheap source of high-quality protein in food and supplements increases the demand for soy lecithinThe Latin America and Africa soy lecithin markets are witnessing sluggish growth rate, however, the growing economy of these regions creates a better platform for soy lecithin market in the upcoming years.Soy lecithin being of lower price and easily available is preferred over other protein enriched food items.Soy Lecithin Market ChallengesExcess consumption of soy lecithin leads to many health issues. Strict government regulations pertaining to genetically modified soybeans hinder the soy lecithin market growth to an extent.View this full report:Soy Lecithin Market ParticipantsSome of the key market players identified in the value chain of global soy lecithin market are Archer Daniels Midland Company, Cargill, Lipoid GmbH, American Lecithin Company, Lasenor emul, Lecico Gmbh, Ruchi Soya Industries Ltd., Ceresking Ecology & Technology Co. Ltd., and Bunge Limited.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 Avocado Market 2017-Global Competition Status and Forecast Market Size by Regions Type Application 2012-2022 Reportsweb http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00011178832/sample http://www.reportsweb.com/2012-2022-report-on-global-avocado-market-competition-status-and-forecast-market-size-by-regions-type-application http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00011178832/discount Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with Sales, Sales, revenue, Market Share (%) and Growth Rate (%) of Avocado in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast) , coveringNorth AmericaEuropeAsia-PacificSouth AmericaMiddle East and AfricaGet sample copy @Manufacturer RegionsMexicoDominicaColombiaPeruIndonesiaKenyaUnited StatesChileBrazilRwandaVenezuelaChinaGuatemalaIsraelChinaTaiwanOn the basis of product, the Avocado market is primarily split intoHassGreen SkinBoothLulaFuertePinkertonReedOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report coversFoodCosmeticMedicalOthersBrowse complete report @Table of Content1 Avocado Market Overview2 Global Avocado Market Competition by Manufacturers3 Global Avocado Consumption (MT) , Revenue (Million USD) by Regions (2012-2017)4 Global Avocado Sales, Revenue, Price Trend by Types4.1 Global Avocado Sales (MT) and Market Share (%) by Types (2012-2017)4.2 Global Avocado Revenue and Market Share (%) by Types (2012-2017)4.3 Global Avocado Price (USD/Kg) by Type (2012-2017)4.4 Global Avocado Sales Growth by Type (2012-2017)5 Global Avocado Market Analysis by Applications5.1 Global Avocado Sales (MT) and Market Share (%) by Applications (2012-2017)5.2 Global Avocado Sales Growth Rate (%) by Applications (2012-2017)6 Global Avocado Manufacturer Regions Profiles/Analysis6.1 Mexico6.1.1 Country Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Population6.1.2 Avocado Product Category and Specification6.1.2.1 Product A6.1.2.2 Product B6.1.3 Mexico Avocado Production (MT) , Sales (MT) , Revenue (Million USD) , Price (USD/Kg) , Gross Margin (%) and Market Share (%) (2012-2017)6.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview6.2 Dominica6.2.1 Country Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Population6.2.2 Avocado Product Category and Specification6.2.2.1 Product A6.2.2.2 Product B6.2.3 Dominica Avocado Production (MT) , Sales (MT) , Revenue (Million USD) , Price (USD/Kg) , Gross Margin (%) and Market Share (%) (2012-2017)6.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7 Avocado Manufacturing Cost Analysis7.1 Avocado Key Raw Materials Analysis7.1.1 Key Raw Materials7.1.2 Price Trend of Key Raw Materials7.1.3 Key Suppliers of Raw Materials7.1.4 Market Concentration Rate of Raw Materials7.2 Proportion of Manufacturing Cost Structure7.2.1 Raw Materials7.2.2 Labor Cost7.2.3 Manufacturing Expenses8 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers8.1 Avocado Industrial Chain Analysis8.2 Upstream Raw Materials Sourcing8.3 Raw Materials Sources of Avocado Major Manufacturers in 20168.4 Downstream Buyers9 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders10 Market Effect Factors Analysis11 Global Avocado Market Forecast (2017-2022)12 Research Findings and Conclusion13 Methodology and Data SourceDiscount @ReportsWeb 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.Contact Us:533, 5th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.com Aerosol Cans Market - Global Industry Insights, Trends, Outlook https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/709 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/aerosol-cans-market-709 Aerosols are homogeneous, crystalline particles made up of fine solid particles or liquid droplets in the air or another gas. Aerosols find applications in paints, perfumes, room fresheners, medical products, deodorants, and so on. Aerosol cans are handheld containers that release aerosol. Aerosol cans shield products from external conditions such as moisture, heat, dust, and other contaminants during transportation. However, health and environmental risks posed due to the use of aerosols act as major restraints for the growth of the aerosol cans market.Request Smaple Copy of this Report:Increasing demand for personal care products drives the demand for aerosol cans. Growing use of aerosol cans in paints, medical products, food, adhesives, and vehicles are augmenting the growth of the market. Rising demand for household and personal care products is also expected to have a positive impact on the aerosols market but the presence of fluorocarbons named hydro fluoroalkanes (HFA) is projected to restrain the demand. Emission of CFC is a major disadvantage of aerosols. Aerosols are also found to be inflammable, toxic, and explosive.Aerosol Cans Market TaxonomyOn the basis of propellant type, the global aerosol cans market is classified into:Liquefied Gas PropellantCompressed Gas PropellantOn the basis of material, the global aerosol cans market is classified into:TinplateGlassCoated glassAluminumStainless steelPlasticOn the basis of end use, the global aerosol cans market is classified into:HouseholdAutomotiveAgricultureHealthcare and cosmeticsIndustrialConstructionSportsOn the basis of packaging type, the global aerosol cans market is classified into:BottlesCylindersCansOthersAluminum is the most commonly used material for aerosols cans production due to lightweight coupled with improved safety and hygiene features. Liquefied gas propellant segment holds a major market share. Liquefied gas propellants aid in maintaining the performance of spray during the lifespan of aerosol cans, owing to which it witnesses significant demand in the aerosol cans market. Bottles and cans are the most used forms of aerosol packaging types. Rising demand for air care products along with personal care products such as shaving and depilatories, hair care products, skin care products, and deodorants are expected to create a positive impact on the market for aerosol cans. Use of aerosol as spray paints in construction and automobile industries display the widespread demand for aerosol cans. Aerosol cans are also used to store pain relievers and asthma inhalers.View Full Report @Market OutlookEurope dominates the global aerosol cans market primarily due to the high demand for personal care products in this region. The use of deodorants in developed countries such as the U.K. and Germany has led to technical advancements in the aerosol cans market. The presence of major companies such as Unilever and Nivea has resulted in rise in demand for aerosol cans in this regionThe U.S. is the leading player in the aerosols market in North America. However, the strict ecological rules issued by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding the use of HCFC, CFC, and HFC components in aerosols act as a major hindrance for the aerosol cans market in North AmericaIncreasing awareness regarding personal upkeep and hygiene has led to the growth of aerosol cans market in China and India. Around 70% of the Indian population lives in rural areas. This provides the companies with large untapped markets in Asia. Demand for deodorants and other healthcare products is increasing due to the changing lifestyle trends and rising focus on hygiene, together with increasing product availability. These factors drive the market growth in Asia Pacific, making it the fastest growing market for aerosol cans. The Australian community is highly affected by asthma on a large scale, which results in increasing use of asthma inhalers that in turn bolsters the aerosol cans marketIncreasing automobile production in Brazil and Argentina has led to an increase in demand for aerosol cans in Latin America. Growing disposable incomes along with high standard of living is driving the use of personal care and household products in the regionUrbanization coupled with technological advancements is boosting the use of aerosol cans in the household as well as personal care segments across the Middle East. Developments put forth by several manufacturers and higher living standards & buying power of the people sparkle the demand for aerosol cans in the regionSome of the major players in the global aerosol cans market include Holdings, Inc. (U.S.), CCL Industries, Inc. (Canada), Ball Corporation (U.S.), Crown WestRock Company (U.S.), Nampak Ltd. (South Africa), Ardagh Packaging Holdings Limited (Luxembourg), BWAY Corporation (U.S.), Colep Portugal S.A. (Portugal), and Exal Corporation (U.S.). Companies adopt certain strategies such as new product launches, expansions, mergers & acquisitions, and investments to cope up with the increasing demand for aerosol cans in the emerging markets.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact UsMr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200 Seattle,WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702 Core Materials Market - Global Industry Insights, Trends and Analysis till forecast period https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/716 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/core-materials-market-716 Core materials are the materials used in aerospace and wind energy equipment for improving the strength of the materials. Core materials are generally low strength materials, however, its greater thickness offer the sandwich composite a high bending stiffness with low density. Core materials are used in a wide range of industries including marine, wind energy, and automotive. The core material is inserted between the layers of reinforcement, thus sticking it in, with an equal cover arrangement on either sides of the core material, which ensures maximum benefit.Request Sample Copy of this Report:Some of the major drivers for the core materials market include significant demand from wind energy & aerospace industries and recovery of the U.S. marine industry from economic recession, among others. However, rising number of substitutes for core materials hinders the market growth to a certain extend.Core Materials Market TaxonomyOn the basis of type, the core materials market is segmented into:FoamPVC FoamPET FoamSAN FoamOthersHoneycombAluminumAramidThermoplasticBalsaOn basis of end-use industry, the core materials market is segmented into:AerospaceWind energyMarineTransportationConstructionOthersPVC foam is a polymer foam in which air is trapped inside the foam, which, in turn, increases the volume to weight ratio of the foam. PET is lightweight, thermal resistant, and of great strength. SAN is a circular structure thermoplastic core with high strength and impact resistance. Honeycomb core materials are available in a wide range, from low stiffness and strength to high stiffness and strength. These can be used in domestic internal doors as well as in aircrafts.Core Materials Market OutlookNorth America is estimated to hold the largest market share during the forecast period.. Presence of aerospace original equipment manufacturers in the region drives the demand for lightweight core materials. In addition, the elevated number of wind turbine installations drives the market growth in North AmericaAsia Pacific is estimated to be the fastest growing region for core materials market and is expected to witness exponential growth over the forecast period as well. The projected growth rate is a result of significant use of core materials in aerospace and wind energy industries, primarily in India and ChinaEurope experiences substantial demand for lightweight core materials for use in the aerospace industry. Moreover, Europe, being one of the most attractive tourist destinations, is projected to witness a high demand growth for core materials for various infrastructural developmentsThe Latin America market has witnessed a slowdown owing to the political turmoil existing in major markets of Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela. On the other hand, the market in Africa is expected to experience strong growth rate over the forecast period owing to the forecasted economic growth in the regionCheck the Trending Report of Core materials Marke :The key participants of the core materials market adopt varied organic and inorganic strategies in order to sustain in the market. Some of the examples of market players in the core materials market include Evonik Industries AG, Diab Group (Ratos), Gurit Holding AG, Hexcel Corporation, Armacell International S.A., 3A Composites, Changzhou Tiansheng New Materials Co. Ltd, Euro-Composites S.A., The Gill Corporation, and Plascore Incorporated.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact UsMr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702 Global Low-Cost Satellite Market Analysis by Application, Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors and Traders, Forecast to 2022 ReportsWeb http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00011178459/sample http://www.reportsweb.com/global-low-cost-satellite-market-professional-survey-report-2017 http://www.reportsweb.com/buy&RW00011178459/buy/3500 ReportsWeb.com has announced the addition of the Global Low-Cost Satellite Market Research Report 2017 The report focuses on global major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture, and specification.This report studies Low-Cost Satellite 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, coveringBlack SkyDauria AerospaceDeep Space IndustriesPlanet LabsGeoOpticsSierra NevadaSpaceQuestRUAG SpaceTerran OrbitalSpaceXSPIREAxelspaceClyde SpaceRequest for Sample @On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share, and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoLow-Cost Communication SatelliteLow-Cost Imaging SatelliteOtherBy Application, the market can be split into Military, Civilian.By Regions, this report covers (we can add the regions/countries as you want)North AmericaChinaEuropeSoutheast AsiaJapanIndiaVisit for More Information @Table of Contents1 Industry Overview of Low-Cost Satellite2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Low-Cost Satellite3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Low-Cost Satellite4 Global Low-Cost Satellite Overall Market Overview5 Low-Cost Satellite Regional Market Analysis6 Global 2012-2017E Low-Cost Satellite Segment Market Analysis (by Type)7 Global 2012-2017E Low-Cost Satellite Segment Market Analysis (by Application)8 Major Manufacturers Analysis of Low-Cost Satellite8.1 Black Sky8.1.1 Company Profile8.1.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.1.2.1 Product A8.1.2.2 Product B8.1.3 Black Sky 2016 Low-Cost Satellite Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.1.4 Black Sky 2016 Low-Cost Satellite Business Region Distribution Analysis8.2 Dauria Aerospace8.2.1 Company Profile8.2.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.2.2.1 Product A8.2.2.2 Product B8.2.3 Dauria Aerospace 2016 Low-Cost Satellite Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.2.4 Dauria Aerospace 2016 Low-Cost Satellite Business Region Distribution Analysis8.3 Deep Space Industries8.3.1 Company Profile8.3.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.3.2.1 Product A8.3.2.2 Product B8.3.3 Deep Space Industries 2016 Low-Cost Satellite Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.3.4 Deep Space Industries 2016 Low-Cost Satellite Business Region Distribution Analysis8.4 Planet Labs8.4.1 Company Profile8.4.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.4.2.1 Product A8.4.2.2 Product B8.4.3 Planet Labs 2016 Low-Cost Satellite Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.4.4 Planet Labs 2016 Low-Cost Satellite Business Region Distribution Analysis8.5 GeoOptics8.5.1 Company Profile8.5.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.5.2.1 Product A8.5.2.2 Product B8.5.3 GeoOptics 2016 Low-Cost Satellite Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.5.4 GeoOptics 2016 Low-Cost Satellite Business Region Distribution Analysis9 Development Trend of Analysis of Low-Cost Satellite Market10 Low-Cost Satellite Marketing Type Analysis11 Consumers Analysis of Low-Cost Satellite12 Conclusion of the Global Low-Cost Satellite Market Professional Survey Report 2017Purchase this Report @Contact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comReportsWeb.com is a one-stop shop for 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 with your research queries.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028 Caps and Closures Market - Global Industry Insights, Trends and Analysis 2025 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/726 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/caps-and-closures-market-726 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-discount/726 Caps and closures are plastic packaging on top of bottles, jars, tubes, cans, and so on. Caps and closures are of different types such as screw top, crown cap, snap on, friction fit, tamper evident, and dispersing. Caps and closures find a broad range of application in numerous industries such as beverages, cosmetics, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. The material used to manufacture caps and closures must possess excellent balance of stiffness and toughness along with good chemical resistance. Generally, caps and closures of lightweight and high toughness are preferred in the market.Significant demand for product safety, rising demand from end-use industries, product differentiation, and a large product scope are the major drivers for caps and closures market. Rising implementation of stringent environmental regulations and availability of substitutes in the market are projected to be the factors hindering market growth.Request Sample Copy of This Report:Caps and Closures Market TaxonomyThe global caps and closures market is segmented as follows:On the basis of raw material;PlasticPolypropylenePolyethylenePVCOther Plastic FilmsFull Card BlisterMetalAluminumStainless SteelOthersOn the basis of end-use industry;FoodBeverageNon-Alcoholic BeveragesAlcoholic BeverageHealthcareCosmetic & ToiletriesOthers End UsesMetal as a raw material is mostly used in the pharmaceutical industry, for storage of liquor, and for certain high temperature applications. Plastics caps and closures are used in everyday items, such as food containers and cosmetics bottles, and for non-reacting chemicals storage.View Full Report of Caps And Closures Market:Caps and Closures Market OutlookAsia Pacific is the largest and estimated to be the fastest growing market due to increasing demand in end-use industries such as alcoholic beverages, beer, food & soft beverages, and pharmaceuticals due to their low production cost and ability to keep the beverages safeNorth America and Europe are also expected to grow due to increasing rate of beer consumption in the region, during the forecast period. Also, it is expected that the consumption of liquor will increase in forecast period. Pharmaceutical industry in these regions drives the demand for highly chemical resistance caps and closures for various uses within the industryHigh disposable incomes of the Middle East population drives consumerism. The consumption of electronics and consumer goods are increasing rapidly, driving the market growth of caps and closures. Decline in markets of Syria and Iran have been compensated by high growth rate in the GCC countriesThe Latin America market is witnessing robust growth in the caps and closures market, which is mainly driven by the increase in per capita income of middle class population. Significant reduction in cost, excellent performance, lightweight, and low operational costs are some of the benefits offered by caps and closures, which fuel the market demandTo Get Discount on this report:Some of the major players in the caps and closures market are Guala Closures Group (Italy), Amcor Limited Plc (Australia), RPC Group PLC (U.K.), Crown Holdings Incorporation (U.S.), Rexam PLC (U.K.), Silgan Holdings Inc. (U.S.), AptarGroup Incorporated (U.S.), and Berry Plastics Corporation (U.S.).About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact UsMr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702 Remote Patient Monitoring Devices Market Estimated to Flourish by 2024 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/remote-patient-monitoring-device-market/toc https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3287 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/checkout/3287 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Rising prevalence of cardio vascular diseases, respiratory disorders, and diabetes in the general population are major factors driving the growth of the global remote patient monitoring device market. Increasing healthcare expenditure and increasing availability of effective treatment solutions for chronic diseases is also projected to boost revenue growth of the global remote patient monitoring device market. Other factors boosting market growth include an increasing awareness among people to self-monitor before disease advancement and government reimbursement issued on homecare settings facilities.Lack of trained professionals to help with remote patient monitoring devices is expected to hinder market growth of the global remote patient monitoring device market. Insufficiency in maintaining the privacy and security of the stored data, lack of uniformity in device functionality, and lack of general awareness on patient monitoring devices are the key restraints challenging the market.According to the latest market report published by Persistence Market Research titled Remote Patient Monitoring Device Market: Global Industry Analysis and Forecast, 20162024, the global remote patient monitoring device market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 6.7% and is estimated to reach US$ 1,502.9 Mn by 2024, creating incremental opportunity of US$ 657.1 Mn between 2016 and 2024. Persistence Market Research analyzes the overall performance of the global remote patient monitoring device market and provides key insights on the factors and trends likely to influence the market during this eight-year period.The global remote patient monitoring device market is segmented on the basis of Product Type (Cardiac Monitors, Respiratory Monitors, Hematological Monitors), Application (Cardiac Arrhythmia, Diabetes, Ischemic diseases, Hypertension, Sleep apnea, Chronic respiratory diseases, Hyperlipidemia), End User (Hospitals, Homecare Settings, Long-term Care Centers, Others), and Region (North America, Latin America, Europe, APEJ, and MEA).By product type, the cardiac monitors segment is expected to remain the largest segment and is anticipated to reach US$ 765.4 Mn by the end of 2024, expanding at a CAGR of 6.9% over the forecast period. By the end of 2024, the respiratory monitors segment is projected to reach US$ 435.0 Mn, expanding at a CAGR of 6.5% over the forecast period. By application, the cardiac arrhythmia segment is estimated to reach US$ 307.7 Mn by 2024, expanding at a CAGR of 6.8% over the forecast period.View and Download TOC of Patient Monitoring Device Market Research Report@The diabetes segment is projected to reach US$ 196.8 Mn by 2024, expanding at a CAGR of 5.6% over the forecast period. By end user, the hospitals segment is anticipated to reach US$ 690.1 Mn by 2024, expanding at a CAGR of 6.6% over the forecast period. The homecare settings segment is anticipated to reach US$ 347.3 Mn by 2024, expanding at a CAGR of 6.2% over the forecast period.Among regions, North America is estimated to dominate the global remote patient monitoring device market with 31.4% revenue share of the overall market by the end of 2016. The Europe remote patient monitoring device market is anticipated to reach US$ 341.1 Mn by 2024. By 2024, North America and Europe markets are expected to account for over four-fifth share of the global remote patient monitoring device market revenue.Request and Download Sample Report@Some key companies covered in the report include Boston Scientific Corporation, Koninklijke Philips N.V., Abbott Laboratories, Nihon Kohden Corporation, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., LifeWatch AG, Medtronic, and St. Jude Medical. These companies are primarily focused on enhancing their product portfolio through research and development initiatives and through the introduction of innovative technologies in order to gain higher market share and to strengthen their respective positions in the global market.Buy Full Patient Monitoring Device 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: Transparent Ceramics Market - Global Industry Insights, Trends, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2017-2025 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/732 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/transparent-ceramics-market-732 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-discount/732 http://www.coherentnews.com Transparent ceramics are a visually transparent category of ceramics. Transparent ceramics are crystal-like and glassy in nature. These ceramics are used as optically transparent materials in different forms. They are derivatives obtained from silica-based glass through crystallization. Transparent ceramics are used as a substitute to conventional glass. New product launches and acquisitions are some of the key strategies adopted by the market players to achieve a competitive edge in the transparent ceramics market.Request Sample Copy of This Report:Increasing demand from optoelectronic segment is a major driver for the transparent ceramics market. The high production cost associated with transparent ceramics prove to be a stumbling block for the growth of the transparent ceramics market. High prices of raw materials such as sapphire lead to an increase in cost of transparent ceramics, thus elevating the prices of end products. As a result, industries prefer to use cheaper substitutes.Transparent Ceramics Market TaxonomyThe global transparent ceramics market is segmented on the basis of type, materials, and end use as follows:On the basis of type;Monocrystalline Transparent CeramicsPolycrystalline Transparent CeramicsOther Transparent CeramicsOn the basis of materials;SapphireYttrium Aluminum GarnetAluminum OxynitrideSpinelOther MaterialsOn the basis of end use;Optics & OptoelectronicsAerospace, Defense & SecurityMechanical/ChemicalSensorsHealthcareElectronicsEnergyOthersMonocrystalline transparent ceramics is the largest market segment for transparent ceramics due to its excellent optical transparency and mechanical strength. Owing to these properties, they are widely used in optoelectronics and aerospace, defense & security applications. They are also used as insulators. Sapphire, due to its high transparency properties, is used instead of standard glass to meet the high transparency demands in specific applications. The excellent mechanical and optical properties of transparent ceramics have elevated its demand in the optics & optoelectronics industry, which in turn has bolstered the market growth. It is used to develop CMOS, CCDs, and transmitters. The use of transparent ceramics across aerospace & defense industry has been increasing due to the availability of capital and robust technology in this industry. The material is used to produce armors, windows, and hemispherical domes for aircrafts and missiles.View Full Report @Market OutlookAsia Pacific is a major market for transparent ceramics due to low labor cost and high demand for transparent ceramics across numerous applications. The rising demand from electronics and defense industries in major economies such as China and India drives the market growth in this region. Asia Pacific is also estimated to be the fastest-growing market for transparent ceramics. The region offers potential opportunity due to its strong customer base, strong manufacturing base, and governmental regulations that favor foreign investments, leading to market growth in the emerging countries. The strong electronic market in the region further creates growth opportunities for transparent ceramics over the forecast periodAvailability of capital for technological advancements in the aviation & defense sector in the Middle East, is expected to drive market growth in this region. The Africa market is projected to witness growth over the forecast period owing to the presence of numerous untapped markets in the region, which attracts manufacturers to highly invest in itThe ceramic & glass refractory and iron & steel industry drive the market growth in Europe. Europe provides the global transparent market with opportunities for technological advancements due to the presence of global players such as Saint GobainTo Get Discount on this report:In North America, the U.S. is the major consumer of transparent ceramics. This is due to the increasing use of transparent ceramics in defense sector. The market is entering maturity owing to the already developed market for transparent ceramics in the regionSome of the key players operating in the transparent ceramics market include CoorsTek Inc. (U.S.), Schott AG (Germany), Surmet Corporation (U.S.), II-VI Optical Systems (U.S.), Brightcrystals Technology Inc. (China), CILAS (France), and CeramTec-ETEC GmbH (Germany), among others, who have adopted various strategies to increase their market shares.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact UsMr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Website: Refinery Catalyst Market - Global Industry Insights, Trends and Outlook and Opportunity, 2017-2025 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/736 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/refinery-catalyst-market-736 Catalysts work by enhancing the rate of chemical reactions and are the critical part of industrial processes to limit cost and save energy. Refinery Catalyst is a chemical process that converts the petroleum refinery products (low octane count) from the crude oil into (high-octane) liquid products such as diesel, gasoline, kerosene, etc. The end products of which are called as reformates. These reformates are chief sources of aromatic bulk chemicals such as benzene, toluene, xylene and valuable blending stock for gasoline. The increasing demand for transportation of fuels is anticipated to boost the consumption of refinery catalysts. Moreover, the increasing market demand for refined products has led refinery catalysts to witness a growing market pace.Request Sample Copy of this Report:Refinery Catalyst Market TaxonomyThe global refinery catalyst market is segmented on the basis of type, ingredients, and applications.On the basis of type, the refinery catalyst market is segmented as:FCC CatalystHydrotreating CatalystHydrocracking CatalystsCatalytic reforming CatalystOthersOn the basis of ingredients, the refinery catalyst market is segmented as:ZeoliteNatural ZeoliteSynthetic ZeoliteMetalsPrecious MetalsPlatinumPalladiumRhodiumGoldRare Earth MetalsTransition and Base MetalsTungstenCobaltNickelIronZirconiumMolybdenumManganeseChromiumChemical CompoundsSulfuric acidHydrofluoric acidCalcium CarbonateOn the basis of application, the refinery catalyst market is segmented as:Oil refineriesChemical synthesisPolymer manufacturingEnvironmental SafetyOthersFluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) is one of the major secondary procedure used in petroleum refineries which converts the high molecular weight and high boiling fractions of petroleum crude oil into more valuable products such as olefin gases, gasoline, and others. Cracking of petroleum hydrocarbons was earlier done by thermal cracking, which is now completely replaced by catalytic cracking. Hence, making the hydrocracking segment of refinery catalysts market to grow at a high rate during the forecast period.Zeolite ingredient segment is the largest market in the global refinery catalysts market, as it is the most widely used in the FCC process. Owing to its affordable cost coupled with beneficial properties has enhanced the growth of refinery catalyst in FCC process.Furthermore, other metals such as platinum, tungsten, nickel, cobalt molybdenum and various other metals are usually used for hydrocracking and hydrotreating process to remove impurities and reduce the emission of harmful gases into the environment. As the demand for fuels containing less sulfur content increases, the demand for metals is witnessed to have significant growth during the forecast period.Check the Trendsing Report of Refinery Catalyst Market:Refinery Catalysts Market OutlookAsia Pacific is the largest market for refinery catalysts. The countries such as China and India have the largest population which in turn has enabled burgeoning growth in Industrialization, Urbanization, and Construction activities. Thereby, driving the growth of refinery catalyst market in Asia Pacific at the fastest rate. The rapid expansion and industrialization of polymer manufacturing and refining companies in the Asia-Pacific region is also expected to increase growth of refinery catalysts in the region.Increasing Oil and Gas exploration activities has led to an increase of demand in the Middle East region. Therefore, refinery catalysts market is expected to have a high growth rate in this region.In Europe, the economic slowdown has hindered the market from the past few years. But, the growing construction and automotive industry has enabled the refinery catalyst market to grow at a steady rate.Shale gas boom has attracted many markets in North America and has led to the establishment of many exploration and refining projects. This, in turn, has led to the use of the catalyst to convert heavy crude oil into lighter parts. The increasing use of petroleum feedstock in North America is creating the highest growth opportunities in the refinery catalysts market.Key players in the global refinery catalyst marketThe market of Refinery Catalysts is dominated by large multinationals such as BP Global and Royal Dutch Shell. Other key industry participants include YARA International, Foster Wheeler AG, OXEA GmbH, W R Grace, Johnson Matthey, Albemarle Corporation, BASF SE, Technip SA, and UOP LLC.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact UsMr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200 Seattle,WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702 Global Outlook for Therapeutics for Memory and Cognition Disorders Market by Key Trends and Analysis 2019 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=1863 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=1863 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Memory and cognitive disorders are mental health disorders that primarily affect learning, memory, perception and problem solving ability. The global market of therapeutics for memory and cognition disorders is witnessing a significant growth over recent years due to aging population in different parts of the world, new drugs development and better understanding of drugs mechanism. However, less number of approved drugs is a major restraint for the market growth. Also, ethical implication has become a major challenge for the market.View TOC for this Market Report @Global market of therapeutics for memory and cognition disorders is primarily divided into two segments: based on application and based on mechanisms of action for the treatment. On the basis of applications, memory and cognition disorders treatment market is primarily subdivided into primary and secondary disorders which mainly include Alzheimers disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, Parkinsons disease and Schizophrenia.Further, the area of mechanism of action for the treatment is also sub-divided into two segments: common mechanisms and development in cognition enhancer. Some of the major players operating in the market are Merck, Roche, Pfizer, Shire and Cephalon.For more information on this report, fill the form @This research report analyzes this market depending on its market segments, major geographies, and current market trends. Geographies analyzed under this research report includeNorth AmericaAsia PacificEuropeRest of the WorldAbout 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: Research Report and Overview on 3D Holographic Tapes Market, 2016 - 2024 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=14057 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=14057 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Holography has advanced from security to packaging and its introduction in the packaging domain was first utilized for branding security. Nowadays, packaging industry requires safe and secure packaging of products and 3D holographic tapes meets this requirement. 3D Holographic tapes are not only used for packaging but also for sealing and decoration purpose in different commercial and industrial places. These tapes have an edge and advantages over other industrial tapes owing to its properties such as adhesiveness, environment-friendly, easy and safe to use and also provides premium finish on the end product. In the packaging industry, these types of tapes are used for sealing purposes in cartons, boxes and envelopes. Moreover, the demand is expected to rise owing to its tamper-evident packaging option. 3D holographic tapes provide an optimum solution for most of the end-use industries and helps brand owners to distinguish their products with a superior packaging concept that also provides a stimulating visual experience for their consumers. Moreover, the advancement of packaging technologies in 3D holographic tapes is not only aiding the manufacturers but also helping counterfeiters.Request Report Brochure @3D Holographic Tapes Market: Dynamics3D Holographic tapes are growing on the backdrop of impressive growth in the packaging industry. Furthermore, higher usability in the commercial and household places has collectively augmented the demand for 3D Holographic tapes worldwide. For instance, holographic packaging used in the pharmaceutical sector is gaining traction as it helps in preventing counterfeiting which is an authentication feature. The trend of adopting holographic tape as an attractive form of packaging material is expected to drive the demand for 3D holographic tapes market over the forecast period. Nowadays, transparent 3D holographic tapes are coming up in the market in order to make the packaging appealing while driving sales and also command significant share in terms of revenue generation. The demand for 3D holographic tapes is constantly rising among the leading FMCG companies and is now practiced as one of the distinctive ways of advertising. In addition to this 3D holographic tapes also provides an eye-catching visual impact for all the products it is used for. Furthermore, packaging companies are now offering 3D holographic tapes with customization option for its customers with the logo printed on the same.3D Holographic Tapes Market: SegmentationOn the basis of materials, the global 3D holographic tapes market can be segmented into,Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene (BOPP)polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC)On the basis of colors, the global 3D holographic tapes market can be segmented into,SilverGoldenBlueRedOthersOn the basis of application, the global 3D holographic tapes market can be segmented into,Carton sealingPharmaceuticalTextileCosmeticsLubricantsDecorationOthers3D Holographic Tapes Market: Region-wise outlookIn terms of geography, the global 3D holographic tapes market has been divided into five key regions including North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa. The global 3D holographic tapes market is expected to witness an impressive growth over the forecast period. Asia Pacific is expected to be the dominant market during the next few years, followed by Europe and North America. However, packaging companies in North America and Europe are grabbing opportunities to make a strong footprint in the near future. With introduction of advanced technologies in 3D Holographic tapes market in emerging economies namely China and India is expected to drive the demand for 3D holographic tapes.Visit For TOC @3D Holographic Tapes Market: Key-PlayersManufacturers are instrumental in offering 3D holographic tapes that are available in various colors and designs as per the customers requirements and meeting the global standards. Some of the key market participants in the global 3D holographic tapes market are Aspac India, Holosecurity Technologies, CFC International, Shanghai Henglei Hologram Co., LTD, Euro Tapes Pvt Ltd, Holostik, 3D LASER HOLO ART, BiofarChemicals.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: Beer Market - Trends and Opportunities for the Industry by 2021 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=4539 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/latin-america-middle-east-beer-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com A high percentage of obese population and increasing incidence of coronary diseases in Latin America and Middle East is benefitting the sales of beer for health reasons. As per statistics of the World Health Organization (WHO), almost 64.9% of the population was obese in Latin America in 2013. The proportion of obese population stood at 55.6% of the total population in the Middle East in 2010, as per WHO. The consumption of beer helps prevent coronary diseases. This is because the low cholesterol and low fat content of beer help prevent high cholesterol diseases.Factors such as rapid urbanization and rising disposable income of individuals in Latin America and the Middle East are also driving the beer market in these regions. Changing lifestyle, especially among the youth, and adoption of Western food habits is accentuating the demand for beer in the Latin America and Middle East. In addition, the development of organic beer is anticipated to augment the consumption of beer in these regions.The Latin America beer market will expand at a CAGR of 4.4% between 2015 and 2021 increasing from US$57 bn in 2014 to US$77.1 bn by 2021 in terms of revenue. In terms of volume, the Latin America will increase from 20,191.6 million liters to 24,847.9 million liters by 2021 at a CAGR of 3.1% between 2015 and 2021.On the other hand, the Middle East beer market will display a CAGR of 4.3% between 2015 and 2021 to increase from US$3.5 bn in 2014 to US$4.8 bn by 2021. By volume, the Middle East beer market is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 2.1% between 2015 and 2021 and increase from 1,044.3 million liters in 2014 to 1,209.4 million liters by 2021.Get an exclusive sample of this report @Increasing Awareness of Health Benefits of Beer Gives Impetus to Latin America and Middle East Beer MarketThe presence of religious prohibitions of the Islamic sect that are governed by state laws has banned the consumption of alcohol in certain parts of Middle East such as Saudi Arabia among others. This has resulted the Middle East beer market to be predominantly consuming non-alcoholic beer. However, in some parts of Middle East such as the UAE and Egypt among others, alcoholic beer is consumed. In 2014, the UAE and Egypt collectively held 40.62% of the Middle East beer market.On the other hand, in Latin America, there are no such strict restrictions, so the consumer base for alcoholic beer is higher than that of non-alcoholic beer. The rising awareness regarding the health benefits of beer and favorable climatic conditions are leading to an increased consumption of beer in this region. At present, Brazil dominates the Latin America market and held 60.2% of the market in 2014.Browse Press Release of this Research Report @Lager Beer Major Product Segment of Latin America and Middle East Beer MarketThe product segments of the Latin America and Middle East beer market are stout beer, non-alcoholic beer, lager beer, and dark beer. Amongst these, the lager beer segment holds the largest share in the Latin America and Middle East beer market in terms of revenue. The lager beer product segment is expected to expand at 4.40% CAGR between 2015 and 2021 in the Latin America beer market. The lager beer product segment is expected to display a CAGR of 3.50% between 2015 and 2021 in the Middle East beer market.Some of the leading players operating in the Latin America and Middle East beer market are Anheuser-Busch InBev, Heineken N.V., SABMiller Plc, and AmBev S.A., and Carlsberg Group.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: Butter market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022 http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00011178352/sample http://www.reportsweb.com/global-Butter-market-research-report-2017-2022 http://www.reportsweb.com/buy&RW00011178352/buy/2900 ReportsWeb.com has announced the addition of the Global Butter Market Research Report 2017-2022 The report focuses on global major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specification.Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD) , market share and growth rate of Butter in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast) , coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaGlobal Butter market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingAmulHatsunArla FoodsFonterraPresident CheeseLand O LakesRochefortKMFGrassland-California DairiesOrnuaWestland Milk ProductsGoodman Fielder-Organic ValleyOLAMGalactika GroupMurray GoulburnRequest Sample copy @On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoSalted ButterUnsalted ButterOn 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 Butter for each application, includingRetailFood ServiceFood ProcessingFor more Information Visit @Table of Contents1 Butter Market Overview2 Global Butter Market Competition by Manufacturers3 Global Butter Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)4 Global Butter Supply (Production) , Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2012-2017)5 Global Butter Production, Revenue (Value) , Price Trend by Type6 Global Butter Market Analysis by Application7 Global Butter Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis7.1 Amul7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.1.2 Butter Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 Product A7.1.2.2 Product B7.1.3 Amul Butter Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 Hatsun7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.2.2 Butter Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 Product A7.2.2.2 Product B7.2.3 Hatsun Butter Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 Arla Foods7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.3.2 Butter Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.2.1 Product A7.3.2.2 Product B7.3.3 Arla Foods Butter Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.4 Fonterra7.4.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.4.2 Butter Product Category, Application and Specification7.4.2.1 Product A7.4.2.2 Product B7.4.3 Fonterra Butter Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.4.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.5 President Cheese7.5.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.5.2 Butter Product Category, Application and Specification7.5.2.1 Product A7.5.2.2 Product B7.5.3 President Cheese Butter Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.5.4 Main Business/Business Overview8 Butter Manufacturing Cost Analysis9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders11 Market Effect Factors Analysis12 Global Butter Market Forecast (2017-2022)13 Research Findings and ConclusionPurchase this report @Contact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop for market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. 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